Author: Pringle, Thomas
Biography:
PRINGLE, Thomas (1789-1834: ODNB)
The third son of Catherine Haitlie and her husband, Robert Pringle, he was born on the family farm near Kelso. When he was three months old, his nurse dropped him and he was permanently lamed—meaning that he would not become a farmer like his father. He was educated at Kelso Grammar School and the University of Edinburgh (1805-08). He worked at the General Register House and became increasingly involved in Edinburgh literary society, publishing his poems in Albyn’s Anthology and James Hogg’s Poetic Mirror. His The Institute and Autumnal Excursion (featured in Hogg’s periodical) led to acclaim and his work was praised by Walter Scott (q.v.) who was to become an important mentor. In 1817 he, with James Cleghorn, became joint editor of William Blackwood’s newly-launched Edinburgh Monthly Magazine. At the same time, he was also editing the Edinburgh Star and the resulting dilution of his energies led to his dismissal by Blackwood—and his prompt hiring by Archibald Constable to edit his rival publication, the Edinburgh Magazine. Pringle married Margaret Brown (1780-1854) in July 1817. In 1819, with the collapse of both the Star and the Edinburgh Magazine, he found himself again seeking a clerical post at the Register House. Plans were developed to emigrate to South Africa and, with a recommendation from Scott, he secured support from a government scheme for twenty-four members of his family to travel to the area now known as Glen Lyndon. In 1822 Pringle moved to Cape Town where he became the librarian of the South Africa Public Library. His engagement in other activities—education, a newspaper, and raising funds to aid settlers—were successful but his agitation for a free press incurred the ire of the governor and led to his financial ruin. He and Margaret returned to London where he became active with the Anti-Slavery Society while also producing poetry and prose—Glen-Lyndon (1828) and African Sketches (1834). He died of tuberculosis and was buried at London; his body was later reinterred at Eildon Church, South Africa. (ODNB 18 Aug. 2020; ancestry.co.uk 18 Aug. 2020)
Other Names:
- Pringle
- T. Pringle