Collection MS 58 - Robert Leighton. Scottish Poet

Identity area

Reference code

MS 58

Title

Robert Leighton. Scottish Poet

Date(s)

  • 1806-1875 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

21 items

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Robert Leighton, Scottish poet, was born in Dundee, 20 February 1822. On the death of his mother in 1835 he settled with his brother William, a shipowner in Dundee, attending the Academy there until 1837 when he entered his brother's office. In 1842-1843 he went round the world as a supercargo in one of William Leighton's ships. On his return he entered the service of the London and North Western Railway at Preston. He married in 1850 and his wife is the 'Eliza' of his dramatic and reflective poems. From 1854 to 1858 he managed a branch business of a firm of Liverpool seed merchants at Ayr. In 1849 he wrote for a Dundee pamphlet several poems and songs of which 'Jenny Marshall's Candy O' proved instantly popular. In 1855 Poems by Robin was published and in 1861 and 1866 Poems by Robert Leighton. Leighton was famous for reciting one of his early compositions 'The Laddie's Lamentation on the Loss O' his Whittle' and 'The Centenary of Robert Burns' which he recited at the Ayr gathering in 1859. Leighton's complete works are included in the two volumes Reuben and other Poems (1875) and Records and other Poems (1880). In March 1867 Leighton met with an accident near Youghal and became an invalid. He died at Liverpool 10 May 1869.

Archival history

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Correspondence between Robert Leighton and Jeffrey Inglis, 1839-1845; letters from Jeffrey Inglis to Robert Leighton, and to Mrs Robert Leighton, 1859-1875; and letter from James Smith in Glasgow to Alexander Smith, teacher of music, Dundee, 1806.

Accruals

Not expected

System of arrangement

Usually chronological within series.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

Conditions governing reproduction

Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

Language of material

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Paper

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Mrs J.G Forsyth, Broughty Ferry, granddaughter of Jeffrey Inglis

Existence and location of copies

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Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

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Description control area

Description identifier

MS 58

Rules and/or conventions used

Description compiled in line with the following standards: International Council on Archives, ISAD(G) General International Standard Archival Description; International Council on Archives, ISAAR(CPF): International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families; National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997

Status

Catalogued

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

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