Chapter St. John to Scott of S by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Scott, Alexander (1525?-1584?).—Scottish poet, Almost nothing is known of his life, but he is believed to have spent most of his time in or near Edinburgh Thirty-six short poems are attributed to him, including Ane New Yeir Gift to Quene Mary, The Rondel of Love, and a satire, Justing at the Drum. He has great variety of metre, and is graceful and musical, but his satirical pieces are often extremely coarse.

Scott, Hugh Stowell (1863?-1903).—Novelist (under the name of Henry Seton Merriman). He was an underwriter in Lloyd’s, but having a strong literary bent, latterly devoted himself to writing novels, many of which had great popularity. They include The Slave of the Lamp (1892), The Sowers (generally considered his best) (1896), In Kedar’s Tents (1897), Roden’s Corner (1898), Isle of Unrest (1900), The Velvet Glove (1901), The Vultures (1902), and Barlasch of the Guard (1903). He worked with great care, and his best books hold a high place in modern fiction. He was unusually modest and retiring in character.

Scott, John (1730-1783).—Poet, son of a Quaker draper who in his later years lived at Amwell, a village in Herts, which the poet celebrates in his descriptive poem, Amwell. He wrote much other verse now forgotten.

Scott, Lady John (Alicia Ann Spottiswoode) (1801-1900).—married Lord John Scott. She was the writer of a number of Scottish songs characterised by true poetic feeling. Among them may be mentioned Annie Laurie, Douglas, and Durrisdeer. She also composed the music for them.