James Logan (writer)
James Logan (* 1794 in Aberdeen , † 1872 in London ) was a Scottish writer who wrote fundamental works on the history of Scottish clans .
Life
James Logan was born in Aberdeen around 1794 to a merchant. He studied law at Marischal College, but due to an accident - it is said that he was hit in the head by a hammer in a sports competition - he was unable to finish his studies. During his lengthy recovery, he became interested in early Scottish history and archeology , which led to him devoting much of his career to antiquity.
The Scottish Gael
In the 1820s, Logan made most of his living writing articles for newspapers and magazines while on the side working on his most important book. Under the title The Scottish Gael or Celtic Manners, as Preserved among the Highlanders (Scottish Gaels or Celtic customs, as they are preserved from the highlands to date) in 1831 published an extensive work, which includes a detailed list of clan tartans contained.
The studies for this spanned five years, in which he, in his own words:
... walking leisurely across Scotland, stick in hand and backpack on his back, from the Mull of Galloway to John O'Groats ... carefully examining and sketching all kinds of antiquity .
In compiling his tartan list, he received support from the Highland Society of London and from tartan maker Wilson of Bannockburn. In the archives of the Highland Society of London Logan studied the certified tartans. The summary of the samples of clan and family tartans sent by Wilson of Bannockburn contained a number of useful comments. James Logan publishes his collection of 55 tartans, which he:
... thought to be as precise as the most extensive personal research and the excellent assistance of some dear friends made possible .
After completing his publication The Scottish Gael , Logan was hired as secretary of the Highland Society of London through the mediation of his friend Sir John Sinclair. As a result, he was also involved in the Gaelic Society of London, where he put his energy into promoting the Gaelic language and its literature. His interest in tartans remained, however, and he later wrote the text for The Clans of the Scottish Highlands in two volumes, which were published by Ackerman & Co. in London in 1845 and 1847. This publication, with a series of 74 picture panels painted by the Scottish artist Robert Ronald McIan , proved to be one of the most popular books in the field during the Victorian era. Logan made the acquaintance of Prince Albert , who helped him to get an apartment in the London Charterhouse , a former Charterhouse , and to spend his old age there in noble poverty. James Logan died in London in 1872.
Publications
- James Logan The Scottish Gael or Celtic Manners, as Preserved among the Highlanders 1831 ( Online at Electric Scotland , pdf 77 MB )
- James Logan & Robert Ronald McIan: The Clans of the Scottish Highlands . Ackerman & Co. 1845 and 1847.
- James Logan, Robert R. McIan: The Clans of the Scottish Highlands . Crescent Books, 2nd ed., Birmingham 1986; ISBN 0-517-48284-3
- James Logan & Robert Ronald McIan: Gaelic gatherins or the highlanders at home on heather, river an loch .
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Logan, James |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Scottish writer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1794 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Aberdeen |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1872 |
| Place of death | London |