Author: Galt, John
Biography:
GALT, John (1779-1839: ODNB)
Novelist, poet, dramatist. He was born to John Galt and Jean (Thomson) Galt at Irvine, Ayrshire; his father was a shipmaster. In childhood, Galt suffered from ill health and he was educated at home before being sent to the Irvine Grammar School. In about 1789, the family moved to Greenock where Galt joined a subscription library and a debating club. His first publication was an essay on John Wilson that served as introduction to a volume of Wilson’s poems. He began writing poetry and plays while working as a clerk for a firm of merchants, and he moved to London in 1804 hoping to make his fortune. He briefly attempted to become a barrister before suddenly embarking on a voyage around the Mediterranean in 1809; during his travels he became acquainted with Lord Byron. His writing career commenced in earnest on his return to London in 1811 when Galt began producing a steady stream of successful and well-regarded historical and regional novels set in the west of Scotland. In 1813 he married Elizabeth Tilloch; they had three sons. Ever restless, Galt departed for Canada in 1826 as secretary for a company charged with developing land in Ontario. He proved efficient and successful in this role (Galt, Ontario, is named after him) and his family joined him there. However, for unknown reasons, the company lost faith in him and Galt was obliged to return to England where he was promptly arrested for debt. Although he subsequently continued writing and publishing, his health suffered and, following a stroke in the early 1830s, he returned to Greenock where he died. (ODNB 7 Jan. 2019; ancestry.co.uk 7 Jan. 2019) SR