William Hamilton of Gilbertfield
William Hamilton of Gilbertfield (born c. 1665, Ladyland, Ayr, Scot.—died May 24, 1751, Latrick, Lanark) was a Scottish writer whose vernacular poetry is among the earliest in the 18th-century Scottish literary revival.
After serving in the British Army, he retired to the life of a country gentleman. He became closely acquainted with the poet Allan Ramsay, with whom he exchanged “Familiar Epistles” (1719) in verse, after which Burns’s similar poetic letters were modelled. His modernized version of Wallace (1722) by Blind Harry also influenced Burns.
Citation Information
Article Title:
William Hamilton of Gilbertfield
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
20 May 2024
URL:
https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Hamilton-of-Gilbertfield
Access Date:
February 21, 2025