Author: Logan, John
Biography:
LOGN, John (1747/8-88: ODNB)
He was born at Soutra, Midlothian, in late 1747 or early 1748 to George Logan, farmer, and his wife Janet (Waterston). He was educated at the grammar school in Musselburgh (likely where he met Alexander Carlyle, a lifelong influence) and, from 1762, the University of Edinburgh where he studied arts and divinity and met Michael Bruce (q.v.). After Bruce’s early death, Logan edited and published his Poems on Several Occasions and, controversially, appropriated his “Ode to the Cuckoo” for his own 1781 collection, claiming that he had written it (a claim made plausible by Logan’s preface to Bruce’s book where he states that some of the poems were written by others). He was licensed to preach at Haddington in 1770 and at South Leith in 1773. Increasingly he was a whig politically. He lectured on history at St Mary’s Chapel, Edinburgh; these lectures were later published. He was a member of the Society of Antiquaries, Edinburgh, and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Logan’s personal life was unfortunate: he suffered from depression, drank heavily, and, although unmarried, he fathered at least two children with women in his parish. He fled to London where, for a time, he was a hack journalist. His sermons were published following his death at London. (ODNB 3 Oct 2019) HJ
Other Names:
- Logan
- Mr. Logan