Background
He was born in Dumfriesshire and was for a time a teacher in Huntingdon.
historian journalist lexicographer linguist
He was born in Dumfriesshire and was for a time a teacher in Huntingdon.
University of Edinburgh.
He wrote a History of Huntingdon in 1824. In 1828 he became editor of the Inverness Courier, in which role he continued for many years. He edited Alexander Pope"s works with a memoir (1853), and along with Robert Chambers edited the first edition of Chambers" Cyclopædia of English Literature (1842-1844).
He received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Edinbugh.