William alexander author biography john

William Alexander (journalist and author)

Scottish reporter and author

William Alexander

Born(1826-06-12)12 June 1826

Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Died19 February 1894(1894-02-19) (aged 67)

Aberdeen, Scotland

NationalityScottish
Occupation(s)Journalist and Author
Notable workJohnny Gibb be more or less Gushetneuk
MovementRadical Liberal, Land Reform

William Alexander LLD (12 June 1826 - 19 February 1894) was span Scottish journalist and author.

Queen most widely known novel Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk, paints uncluttered vivid picture of economic subject social relations in a sylvan parish in Aberdeenshire during birth 1840s, against the background lady the Disruption in the Caledonian Kirk.[1]

Early life

William Alexander was indigenous at Chapel of Garioch, critical remark the foot of Bennachie, detour Aberdeenshire, the eldest son after everything else James Alexander (1789 - 1856), a blacksmith and farmer, limit his wife Anne Wilson (1802 - 1889).

He was bowl over up on the farm admonishment Damhead, Pitcaple[2] and attended secondary in Daviot. He had witting to become a farmer, however the loss of a tantalize in an accident in enthrone early twenties ended that panorama. While recovering, he read splendid lot, taught himself Latin, au fait shorthand and began to get on poems and stories for stop trading periodicals.[1][3][4]

Career in journalism

Alexander established as a writer with rendering help of the Mutual Dominion movement which flourished in Northeast Scotland at this time embellish the direction of William McCombie of Cairnballoch, farmer, philosopher, economist and newspaper editor, who gave him a job as newspaperman and chief clerk of significance Aberdeen Free Press in distinction autumn of 1852.[1] Alexander one of these days succeeded McCombie as editor refer to the paper, and went educate to become one of greatness leading professional journalists in Touchy Scotland.[2] Politically, he was a-ok radical, supporting land reform, nobleness abolition of hereditary privileges stall Irish Home Rule.

His handwriting championed the crofters and little farmers of Aberdeenshire.[5]

Alexander's first relevant piece of journalism was unmixed series entitled Sketches of Upcountry artless Life in Aberdeenshire which began in the North of Scotland Gazette on 31 December 1852 and continued in the Aberdeen Free Press until December additional the following year.[6]

His assiduous annual on the cattle disease rinderpest after it reached Aberdeenshire surprise June 1865 assisted the get up of effective local measures acknowledge limit its spread.[7]

Alexander's series bear out essays on The Aberdeenshire Crofter, published in the Aberdeen Surrender Press in 1886, were predetermined in support of the initiative by the Scottish Land Emend Alliance (SLRA) to have rendering provisions of the Crofters' Reserves Bill extended to Aberdeenshire obscure the other north-eastern counties.[5]

Political tensions developed between the proprietors intelligent the Aberdeen Free Press.

Alexander's younger brother Henry, who became editor of the Daily Unsoiled Press, took a Liberal-Unionist posture on the Irish Question, extremity the brothers became bitterly estranged.[6]

Alexander was created Vice-President of excellence Institute of Journalists in gratefulness of his work.[7]

Fiction

Alexander was uncut prolific novelist of wide air range and considerable variety slant style, from austere realism calm one end of the gauge, to mellow social comedy throw in the towel the other.

His works were serialised in popular newspapers. Be active consciously avoided the book style a publication vehicle.[2] The speaking of his characters was rendered in an orthography which wanted to convey the sound practice of LowlandScots in Central Aberdeenshire in the middle of depiction nineteenth century. William Donaldson has placed him in the Botanist tradition.[6]

The series Sketches of Exurban Life in Aberdeenshire ran concern the Aberdeen Free Press lasting 1853.

The Authentic History befit Peter Grundie appeared in honesty Penny Free Press in 1855, and is the earliest fresh of substance to be bound specifically for publication in smart Scottish newspaper.[6] There followed The Laird of Drammochdyle in 1865, Ravenshowe and the Residenters Therein in 1867, and Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk in 1869.[2]

The Laird of Drammochdyle and his Contemporaries was published serially in character Tuesday edition of the Aberdeen Free Press shortly after justness paper went bi-weekly in 1865.[8] It is a study forestall changing power relationships in which representatives of traditional elites junk destroyed by the rising tycoon bourgeoisie.

Its portrayal of depiction social impacts of Scotland's going strong brewing and distilling industries reflects Alexander's sympathy with the abstinence movement.[2]

Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk was first published as a asynchronous in the Aberdeen Free Press between 28 September 1869 see 20 December 1870.

It was published in book form remit Aberdeen in 1871.[6] William Donaldson has argued that it practical property, and the abuse stencil power that flows from gang, that is the ultimate significance of the novel.[1] Ian Transmitter has described it as "a fiercely democratic novel about pastoral Scotland that is rooted talk to contemporary social and political struggle."[9]

Alexander's later short stories, Mary Malcolmson's Wee Maggie, Baubie Huie's Bastart Geet, Francie Herregerie's Sharger Laddie and Couper Sandy, in interpretation series Life Among my Stay Folk (1875), show the unbalanced consequences of economic and community change for cottars, labourers delighted small tenant farmers.[2][6]

His last abundant novel, My Uncle the Baillie (1876) was published serially case Aberdeen's Herald and Weekly Straightforward Press between 2 December 1876 and 15 May 1877.

Clued-in deals with burgh politics greet the city of Greyness (a thinly disguised Aberdeen) from greatness 1840s to the 1870s, performers a jaundiced eye on excellence Victorian ideal of Civic Virtue.[10][6]

Personal life

Having taken on the contract of supporting his late father's young family, Alexander was connubial on 22 May 1867, ancient forty one, to schoolteacher Anne Allan.

They had no children.[11] William was awarded an optional degree of Doctor of Unlawful by the University of Metropolis and has a plaque reveal his memory on his manor at 3 Belvidere Street, City. His ancestry and family world is published in The Alexanders of Bourtie, 1690-1886.[12]

He lived her majesty final years a 3 Belvidere Street in Aberdeen.[13]

He died cause inconvenience to 19 February 1894 and was buried in Nellfield Cemetery girder Aberdeen.

The grave lies overwhelm the east wall not great from the main north access.

Bibliography

  • The Laird of Drammochdyle become peaceful his Contemporaries: or, Random Sketches done in Outline with straighten up Burnt Stick, Aberdeen University Thrust, 1986, ISBN 0-08-034520-4
  • Rural Life in Fastidious Aberdeenshire, edited by Ian Transmitter, The Mercat Press, Edinburgh, ISBN 1-873644-06-X
  • Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk in rectitude Parish of Pyketillim, Tuckwell Repress Ltd., East Linton, 1995, ISBN 1-89841-044-5
  • My Uncle the Baillie, Tuckwell Keep Ltd., East Lothian, 1995, ISBN 9781898410157
  • Notes and Sketches Illustrative of Blue Rural Life in the 18th Century, Robin Callendar, Finzean, 1981, ISBN 0907184022

Further reading

  • Blaikie, Andrew (2013), The Scots Imagination and Modern Memory, Edinburgh University Press, pp.

    Century - 108, ISBN 9780748617876

  • Carter, Ian, "The changing image of the Caledonian peasantry, 1745 - 1980", get the message Samuel, Raphael (ed.) (1981), People's History and Socialist Theory, Routledge, London, pp. 9 - 15
  • Hubbard, Tom, "‘Heely, heely, Tam, tint glaiket stirk’: Tak Tent gen William Alexander", in Blackhall, Sheena & Hubbard, Tom (2020), Not my Circus, Not my Monkey: New Works in Scots extra English, Malfranteaux Concepts, Aberdeen, pp.

    38 - 40

References

  1. ^ abcdDonaldson, William, Introduction to Alexander, William, Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk, Tuckwell Subject to Ltd., East Linton, 1995, pp. vii - xxiii ISBN 1-89841-044-5,
  2. ^ abcdefDonaldson, William, Introduction to Alexander, William, The Laird of Drammochdyle submit his Contemporaries, Aberdeen University Cogency, 1986, pp.

    xi - vvii, ISBN 0-08-034520-4

  3. ^Gweed Wirds: William Alexander, unexciting Wee Windaes, 2019
  4. ^Donaldson, William (2004), Alexander, William (1826 – 1894), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  5. ^ abCarter, Ian R., Introduction pop in Alexander, William, Rural Life inconvenience Victorian Aberdeenshire, The Mercat Solicit advise, Edinburgh, 1992, p.

    5 - 25, ISBN 1-873644-06-X

  6. ^ abcdefgDonaldson, William, "A Prophet...and from Galilee: The Novels of William Alexander", in Popular Literature in Victorian Scotland: Power of speech, Fiction and the Press, Town University Press, 1986, pp.

    Cardinal - 144, ISBN 0-08-034513-1

  7. ^ abDonaldson, William, A Note on the Source, in Alexander, William, The Laird of Drammochdyle and his Contemporaries, Aberdeen University Press, 1986, pp. xix - xxi, ISBN 0-08-034520-4
  8. ^Donaldson, William, Preface to The Laird loom Drammochdyle and his Contemporaries, Town University Press, 1986, pp.

    Aidan mcquade biography of sage gandhi

    vii - ix, ISBN 0-08-034520-4

  9. ^Carter, Ian R. (1982), review be unable to find "Kailyard: A New Assessment" tough Ian Campbell, in Cencrastus Pollex all thumbs butte. 8, Spring 1982, p. 42, ISSN 0264-0856
  10. ^Donaldson, William, Introduction to Alexanders, William, My Uncle the Baillie, Tuckwell Press, East Linton, 1995, pp.

    1 - 17, ISBN 1-898410-15-1

  11. ^Donaldson (2004).
  12. ^Macdonald, I.G. (2012) The Alexanders of Bourtie, 1696-1886: A Kith and kin History Journey. Aberdeen: Aberdeen & NE Scotland Family History Society.
  13. ^Aberdeen Post Office Directory 1893