Editing William Knox

[[File:William_Knox's_grave,_New_Calton_Cemetery.jpg|thumb|307px|Grave of William Knox (1789-1825), New Calton Cemetery, Edinburgh. Photo by '''Stephen C. Dickson''', 2014. ''Licensed under Creative Commons, courtesy [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Knox%27s_grave,_New_Calton_Cemetery.JPG Wikimedia Commons]''.]]
'''William Knox''' (17 August 1789 - 12 November 1825) was a [[Scottish poetry|Scottish poet]].

==Life==
===Overview===
Knox, son of a farmer in Roxburghshire, wrote several books of poetry, ''The Lonely Hearth, Songs of Israel, Harp of Zion'', etc., which gained him the friendship of [[Walter Scott|Scott]]. He fell into dissipated habits, was latterly a journalist in Edinburgh, and died at 36.<ref>John William Cousin, "[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Short_Biographical_Dictionary_of_English_Literature/Knox,_William Knox, William]," ''A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature''. London: Dent / New York: Dutton, 1910, 226. Wikisource, Web, Feb. 4, 2018.</ref>

===Youth and education===
Knox was born at Firth, parish of Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire.<ref name="dnb31337" />

He received an elementary education at Lilliesleaf and Musselburgh.<ref name="dnb31337" />

===Career===
He farmed without success near Langholm, Dumfriesshire, from 1812 to 1817. He "became too soon his own master," says Scott, "and plunged into dissipation and ruin." (''Journal'', i. 39). His farming career over, he returned to his native place.<ref name=dnb31337>Bayne, 337.</ref>

In 1820 the family settled in Edinburgh, and Knox became a [[journalist]]. Sir [[Walter Scott]], [[John Wilson (19th century)|Prof. Wilson]], and others befriended him, and Scott frequently gave him substantial financial relief.<ref name="dnb31338" /> 

Knox's convivial habits undermined his health, and he died at Edinburgh of paralysis.<ref name="dnb31338">Bayne, 338.</ref>

==Writing==
Besides a prose ''Visit to Dublin'' and a Christmas tale, ''Mariamne; or, The widower's daughter'', Knox published ''The Lonely Hearth, and other poems'', 1818; ''The Songs of Israel'', 1824; and ''The Harp of Zion'', 1825. His lyrics are graceful and thoughtful. Scott thought Knox in ''The Lonely Hearth'' superior to [[Michael Bruce (poet)|Michael Bruce]].<ref name=dnb31338/>

==Recognition==
A complete edition of Knox's poems appeared in 1847.<ref name=dnb31338/>

"Mortality" ("Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?"), from ''Songs of Israel'', was a favorite of [[Abraham Lincoln]].<ref name=dnb31338/>

==Publications==
===Poetry===
*''The Lonely Hearth, and other poems''. North Shields, UK: privately published, printed by.K. Pollock, 1818.
*''Songs of Israel: Consisting of lyrics, founded upon the history and poetry of the Hebrew scripture''. Edinburgh: J. Anderson, 1824.
*''The Harp of Zion: A series of lyrics, founded upon the Hebrew Scriptures''. Edinburgh: John Fairbairn, 1825.
*''[https://archive.org/details/lonelyhearthson00knoxgoog The Lonely Hearth; The songs of Israel; Harp of Zion; and other poems]''. London: J. Johnstone, 1847.
*''President Lincoln's Favorite Poem''. Philadelphia: A.W. Auner, 1865.
*''[https://archive.org/details/ohwhyshouldspiri00knox Oh, why should the spirit of moral be proud?]'' (illustrated by Lizbeth Bullock Humphrey).Boston : Lee & Shepard / New York: C.T. Dillingham, 1877.

===Non-fiction===
*''A Visit to Dublin: Containing a description of the principal curiosities and public buildings in the Irish metropolis''. Edinburgh: John Fairbairn, 1824.<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=visit+au%3AWilliam+Knox&qt=results_page Search results = visit + au:William Knox], WorldCat. OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, July 29, 2016.</ref>


[[File:Oh Why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud?|thumb|right|335 px]]
<small>''Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy [[WorldCat]]''</small>.<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3AWilliam+Knox+1825&qt=advanced&dblist=638 Search results = au:William Knox 1825], WorldCat. OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, July 29, 2016.</ref>

==See also==
[[File:Mortality By William Knox (1789–1825) - From The World's Best Poetry Volume iii - Audio poetry|thumb|right|325 px]]
*[[List of British poets]]

==References==
*{{Cite DNB|title=Knox, William (1789-1825)|volume=31|page=337-338|first=Thomas Wilson|last=Bayne}}. Wikisource, Web, July 28, 2016.
===Notes===
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
;Poems
*[https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/william-knox William Knox] poem at the [[Academy of American Poets]]
*[http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln38.html Abraham Lincoln's Favorite Poem]
*"[http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/TextRecord.php?action=GET&textsid=36154 Ellen]"
*"[http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/TextRecord.php?action=GET&textsid=36153 The Wooer' Visit]"
*[https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/william-knox William Knox] profile & 2 poems at the [[Scottish Poetry Library]]
*[http://www.poemhunter.com/william-knox/ William Knox] at [[PoemHunter]] (3 poems)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190319055324/http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/AuthorRecord.php?&method=GET&recordid=33419 William Knox (1789-1825)] at [[English Poetry, 1579-1830]] (info & 2 poems)
;About
{{DNB}} [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Knox,_William_(1789-1825)_(DNB00) Knox, William (1789-1825)]

{{Authority control|VIAF=31913321}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME              = Knox, William
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Scottish poet
| DATE OF BIRTH     = 17 August 1789
| PLACE OF BIRTH    = Firth, Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire, Scotland
| DATE OF DEATH     = 12 November 1825
| PLACE OF DEATH    = Edinburgh, Scotland
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knox, William}}
{{2016}}
[[Category:1789 births]]
[[Category:1825 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century poets]]
[[Category:English-language poets]]
[[Category:Poets]]
[[Category:Scottish poets]]
Latest revision		Your text
Line 39:		Line 39:


		+	[[File:Oh Why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud?\|thumb\|right\|335 px]]
	<small>''Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy [[WorldCat]]''</small>.<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3AWilliam+Knox+1825&qt=advanced&dblist=638 Search results = au:William Knox 1825], WorldCat. OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, July 29, 2016.</ref>		<small>''Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy [[WorldCat]]''</small>.<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%3AWilliam+Knox+1825&qt=advanced&dblist=638 Search results = au:William Knox 1825], WorldCat. OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, July 29, 2016.</ref>