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Author: Graeme, James

Biography:

Graeme, James (1749-72: ODNB)

The youngest child of William Graeme, a farmer, and Anne (Harvey) Graeme, he suffered all his life from delicate health. He was born at Carnwath, Lanarkshire, and educated at the local parish school before attending the Lanark grammar school and, from 1767, the University of Edinburgh. Although he was awarded a bursary to study at the University of St Andrews, he spent just one year there before returning to Edinburgh in 1770. A year later, he began tutoring the sons of Martin White of Milton, Lanarkshire—work that he enjoyed despite chafing at his dependent situation. During his time as a tutor, he prepared a book of poems for publication but he died of tuberculosis at Carnwath before his task was complete. Although Graeme’s poetry is undistinguished, he was greatly admired by his friend Robert Anderson who is the source for his biographical information. (ODNB 30 Jan. 2019; Robert Anderson, Works of the British Poets [1795] 11: 409-23)

 

Books written (1):

Edinburgh: W. Somerville, Bookseller, Lanark, 1773