William Knox

William Knox (17 August 1789 - 12 November 1825) was a Scottish poet.

Life

Knox was born at Firth, parish of Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire. After receiving an elementary education at Lilliesleaf and Musselburgh, 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." His farming career over, he returned to his native place.

In 1820 the family settled in Edinburgh, and Knox became a journalist. Sir Walter Scott, Professor Wilson, and others befriended him, and Scott frequently gave him substantial pecuniary relief. His convivial habits undermined his health, and he died at Edinburgh of paralysis.

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.

Recognition

A complete edition of Knox's poems appeared in 1847.

"Mortality" ("Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?"), from Songs of Israel, was a favourite of Abraham Lincoln.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.

See also

• List of British poets

References

•  Bayne, Thomas Wilson (1892) "Knox, William (1789-1825)" in Lee, Sidney Dictionary of National Biography 31 London: Smith, Elder, p. 337-338 . Wikisource, Web, July 28, 2016.

External links

Poems

• "Ellen"
• "The Wooer' Visit"

About

• William Knox (1789-1825)
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, the Dictionary of National Biography (edited by Leslie Stephen). London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900. Original article is at: Knox, William (1789-1825)