Author: Anderson, David
Biography:
ANDERSON, David (1787-1851: ancestry.co.uk)
He was born at Kintore, Aberdeenshire; his parents were likely John Anderson and Jean (Dun) Anderson. The title page of The Scottish Village (1808) describes him as an apprentice coppersmith and by 1817 he had set up business for himself at Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. Although he was initially successful, both his poetry and his prefaces record his recurrent struggles with debt and threats of imprisonment. His literary efforts, all published by subscription, were undertaken at least in part to improve his financial standing. Towards the end of his life, his friends tried to help by securing parish relief for him but, not wanting to be known as a pauper, Anderson rejected the offer. The 1851 census shows him living with his sister and her family in Kintore; he gave his occupation as “poet.” He was buried beside his mother in the churchyard at Kintore. (BBA; ancestry.co.uk 12 Apr. 2019)