Allan Cunningham (writer)

Allan Cunningham , lithograph by Frederick Schenck and William Husband MacFarlane , undated

Allan Cunningham , painting by Henry Room , circa 1840

Allan Cunningham (born December 7, 1784 in Keir , † October 30, 1842 in London ) was a Scottish writer.

Life

Cunningham was apprenticed to a stonemason , but soon became interested in literature, especially Scottish ballads . In 1807 he published his first songs. In 1809 he submitted some old ballads and his own songs for Robert Hartley Cromek's collection Remains of Nithdale and Galloway Song and became friends with Walter Scott . In 1810 he moved to London, where he worked as a parliamentary reporter until 1814. He then became the assistant to the sculptor Francis Chantrey until his death in 1841. At the same time he published novels , biographies and songs. His style was considered pompous, although some of his songs in particular became popular, including the shanty song A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea. Cunningham also hosted an edition of the works of Robert Burns , writer and friend of his father's.

He married Jean Walker and had a daughter and five sons with her.

Works (selection)

• Sir Marmaduke Maxwell . London 1822
• The lives of the most eminent British painters, sculptors and artists . 6 volumes, London 1829–33
• Biographical and critical history of the British literature of the last fifty years. Paris 1834. German translation by A. Kaiser: Biographical and critical history of English literature from Samuel Johnson's to W. Scott's death. Leipzig 1934

literature

A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London 1910, sv

Web links

Commons : Allan Cunningham (writer)  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ Encyclopedia Britannica online