Author: Inglis, John
Biography:
INGLIS, John (fl 1777)
Biographical information is scarce, but British Poets (1822) identifies him as master of the grammar school, Canongate, Edinburgh, and states that he died in 1786. The Patriots was published anonymously and the dedication to Prime Minister Lord North declares that the American war is being led by "criminal and ambitious men [who] have unsheathed the sword against their warmest and most determined protectors." A bookseller's catalogue from Henry T. Wake, dated 1869, advertises a copy of the book owned by Robert Burns (q.v.) and with manuscript notes by Burns who took vigorous exception to Inglis's politics. The notes give the date of his death from consumption as 18 Feb. 1786; the month and year are confirmed by the Scots Magazine. Burns claimed that "almost the whole Impression [of the poem] was found by [Inglis] unsold, and disposed of to a Snuff Shop." (British Poets [1822] 71: 267; Scots Magazine Feb. 1786; Henry T. Wake catalogue [1869]) SR