Thomas Davidson (7 July 1838 in Oxnam, near Oxnam Water, a tributary of the River Teviot[1] – 29 April 1870 in Bank End, Jedburgh) was a Scottish poet born to parents from Northumberland, England.[2]
Thomas's education was at a number of village schools then - after showing an early interest in reading and poetry-writing - from 1854 at the Nest Academy at Jedburgh and from 1855 to 1859 at the University of Edinburgh. At university, in 1859, he won second prize in rhetoric for Ariadne at Naxos, a poem sent to William Makepeace Thackeray by one of Thomas's friends and published in the Cornhill Magazine's December issue the following year.
After university, in 1859, Thomas acted on his early callings to the Christian ministry and began the first of the United Presbyterian Church's prescribed five autumnal sessions of the theology course, and was licensed as a preacher on 2 February 1864. He continued to write poetry in this time (working as an assistant schoolmaster at Forres and in Dr Douglas's School, Edinburgh), with some works published in The Scotsman. In accordance with church regulations, he spent the first years of his ministry travelling widely to preach at various Scottish, English and Irish churches, and what he experienced on his travels inspired several more poems. These included the humorous ‘Yang-Tsi-Kiang’, which became popular as a student song and was used by Thomas Carlyle's supporters in his bid to become lord rector of the university. However, Davidson caught a cold in June 1866 which had a severe effect on his health and he was forced to retire to Jedburgh in December that year. During his 4-year recuperation he wrote more mournful songs like the love ballad "Myspie's Den" and "Auld Ash Tree", and continued to be published in The Scotsman, but never fully recovered and died of TB on 29 April 1870 at Bank End, Jedburgh. He was buried at Jedburgh's new cemetery.
Receptionedit
James Brown, Minister of St. James' Street Church in Paisley, wrote a memoir of Davidson in 1877, and this included republication of some of Davidson's poems.[3]
^His mother is known to have come from Belford, though her name is unknown, whilst his father was Jonah Davidson, who hailed from Wooler.
^J. Brown, The life of a Scottish probationer, being a memoir of Thomas Davidson with poems and extracts from his letters (1877)
External linksedit
DNB entry for Thomas Davidson
C. Rogers, The modern Scottish minstrel, or, The songs of Scotland of the past half-century, 6 vols. (1855–7)
April 18, 2024
thomas, davidson, poet, other, people, named, thomas, davidson, thomas, davidson, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challe. For other people named Thomas Davidson see Thomas Davidson disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Thomas Davidson poet news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Thomas Davidson 7 July 1838 in Oxnam near Oxnam Water a tributary of the River Teviot 1 29 April 1870 in Bank End Jedburgh was a Scottish poet born to parents from Northumberland England 2 Contents 1 Life 2 Reception 3 Notes 4 External linksLife editThomas s education was at a number of village schools then after showing an early interest in reading and poetry writing from 1854 at the Nest Academy at Jedburgh and from 1855 to 1859 at the University of Edinburgh At university in 1859 he won second prize in rhetoric for Ariadne at Naxos a poem sent to William Makepeace Thackeray by one of Thomas s friends and published in the Cornhill Magazine s December issue the following year After university in 1859 Thomas acted on his early callings to the Christian ministry and began the first of the United Presbyterian Church s prescribed five autumnal sessions of the theology course and was licensed as a preacher on 2 February 1864 He continued to write poetry in this time working as an assistant schoolmaster at Forres and in Dr Douglas s School Edinburgh with some works published in The Scotsman In accordance with church regulations he spent the first years of his ministry travelling widely to preach at various Scottish English and Irish churches and what he experienced on his travels inspired several more poems These included the humorous Yang Tsi Kiang which became popular as a student song and was used by Thomas Carlyle s supporters in his bid to become lord rector of the university However Davidson caught a cold in June 1866 which had a severe effect on his health and he was forced to retire to Jedburgh in December that year During his 4 year recuperation he wrote more mournful songs like the love ballad Myspie s Den and Auld Ash Tree and continued to be published in The Scotsman but never fully recovered and died of TB on 29 April 1870 at Bank End Jedburgh He was buried at Jedburgh s new cemetery Reception editJames Brown Minister of St James Street Church in Paisley wrote a memoir of Davidson in 1877 and this included republication of some of Davidson s poems 3 Notes edit Roughly 4 miles from Jedburgh Roxburghshire His mother is known to have come from Belford though her name is unknown whilst his father was Jonah Davidson who hailed from Wooler J Brown The life of a Scottish probationer being a memoir of Thomas Davidson with poems and extracts from his letters 1877 External links editDNB entry for Thomas Davidson C Rogers The modern Scottish minstrel or The songs of Scotland of the past half century 6 vols 1855 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Davidson poet amp oldid 1170940541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
