Author: Atkinson, Thomas
Biography:
ATKINSON, Thomas (1799-1833: ODNB)
pseudonym Percy Yorke, Jr.
Bookseller, editor, and poet. He was born at Glasgow on 18 Nov. 1799 to Thomas Atkinson and Agnes (Millar) Atkinson in 1799 (sometimes given as 1801 but 1799 is well-documented). He apprenticed with the Glasgow booksellers Brash and Reid before entering into partnership with David Robertson in 1823. They took over the business of William Turnbull and operated as Robertson and Atkinson until 1830; when the partnership was dissolved, Atkinson set up on his own at 84 Trongate, Glasgow. As Solomon Saveall, he edited a literary periodical, The Ant. In 1832 and 1833 Atkinson also published an anthology, The Chameleon, including many of his own compositions and originally intended as an annual. His poetry is said to have been warmly commended by Walter Scott when Atkinson sent him a copy of The Sextuple Alliance, but Scott’s letter responding to the gift has not been traced. Atkinson was a notable public speaker and debater and, after 1832, he ran as a liberal parliamentary candidate but withdrew. Suffering from tuberculosis, he set off for Barbados and died at sea on 10 Oct. 1833. Atkinson had brought a coffin on the voyage with him and he was buried at sea in the coffin. (ODNB 18 Aug. 2017; ancestry.co.uk 18 Aug. 2017, 15 Feb. 2025; SBTI; N&Q [Jan. 1881], 18) SR