Alexander Geddes

Paul J. deGategno (Penn State University)

Ed. by Daniel Cook, University of Dundee
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.3: Scottish Writing and Culture, 400-present.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Gina Lyle (University of Glasgow), J. Derrick McClure (University of Aberdeen), Andrew Radford (University of Glasgow)

Dates

Born 1737
Died 1802
Activity c. 1760-c. 1800

Places

Active in Scotland

Activities

Primary

Writer / Author

Resources

Geddes' Works

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Alexander Geddes (1737-1802) was born at Arradowl, the parish of Rathven, Aberdeenshire, on 4 September 1737, the son of Alexander Geddes and Janet Mitchel, tenant farmers on the large Gordon estates in the Banffshire district. He is known primarily as a biblical scholar and a Latin, Scots, and English-language poet. His parents were staunch Roman Catholics, and their son was raised to revere both learning and, somewhat surprisingly, the King James Bible. Since only a few books were available in the home, the Bible became a central focus for encouraging a love of language, history, and organized religion. His early schooling began with the sons of local gentry and their tenants who were fortunate in their first teacher, a King’s College, Aberdeen student James Shearer, but due to the…

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1310 words

Citation: deGategno, Paul J.. "Alexander Geddes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 October 2016 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=13798, accessed 31 October 2024.]