Author: Mercer, Andrew
Biography:
MERCER, Andrew (1775-1842: ODNB)
Born at Selkirk, he was the son of a tradesman, Andrew Mercer, and his wife, Janet (Thomson). His parents wanted him to become a clergyman, and he attended the University of Edinburgh from 1790; there he met writers and poets and was inspired to abandon his theological studies in hopes of earning a living as a man of letters and miniature painter. He was unsuccessful and, in 1804, his friends established the North British Magazine to give him some employment. It folded after just a year and Mercer moved to Dunfermline where he supported himself by teaching, writing, and drawing patterns for manufacturers. His History of Dunfermline was published in 1828, followed by a book of poetry, Summer Months Among the Mountains, in 1838. His last years were spent in poverty and he died at Dunfermline. (MSM; ancestry.co.uk 4 Mar. 2020; ODNB 4 Mar. 2020)
Other Names:
- Mercer