Author: Tytler, Patrick Fraser
Biography:
TYTLER, Patrick Fraser (1791-1849: ODNB)
A prominent but not uncontroversial historian, he was born at Edinburgh to Anne (Fraser) and Alexander Fraser Tytler (q.v.). He attended Edinburgh High School until 1808 when he was sent to Chobham school, Surrey. He began studying law and classics at Edinburgh University in 1810 and was called to the Scottish bar in 1813. He was never more than half-hearted about developing his legal career and, with William and Archibald Alison, he travelled to Europe in 1814 and 1818. Although he tried writing drama, biographies, and verse, and contributed to Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (which, however, was perhaps too tory even for him), it was only in 1823 when Walter Scott (q.v.) suggested writing a new, factually based history of Scotland that he found his calling. In 1826 he married Rachel Hog (d 1837; they had two sons and a daughter) and commenced writing the Scottish history. He eschewed traditional stories in favour of examination of original documents. However, when the first of nine volumes was published in 1828, it did not meet with unqualified praise and, as he moved into more recent history with subsequent volumes, he was sharply criticised by some other Scottish historians. In 1836 he was passed over for the position of historiographer royal of Scotland. Bitterly disappointed, he eventually decided to move to London and, over time, he began writing English history. With the publication in 1843 of the final volume of The History of Scotland, he was invited to Windsor Castle to arrange the royal historical miniature collection with Prince Albert. In 1844 he was granted a civil list pension. He married Anastasia Bonar of Kent in 1846. He died at Malvern and his body was taken to Greyfriars churchyard for burial. (ODNB 1 Dec. 2020) SR