Dr Thomas Blacklock (1721-1791) was a poet and man of letters born in Annan, Dumfriesshire. He suffered from smallpox as an infant and lost his eyesight. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and was eventually ordained as a minister in 1762. Blacklock’s blindness contributed to a rejection of him by the parishioners of Kirkcudbright. He received an annuity and relocated to Edinburgh, where he continued his literary career and ran a boarding house. His poetry went through a number of editions in his lifetime and he published a range of other work including sermons, translations and criticism. He is often remembered today for having played an instrumental role in the career of Robert Burns, influencing the young poet’s decision move to Edinburgh. The two would subsequently…
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Citation: McKeever, Gerard Lee. "Thomas Blacklock". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 September 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13764, accessed 31 October 2024.]