Agnes Maxwell MacLeod facts for kids

Agnes Maxwell MacLeod (born 1783, died 1879) was a Scottish poet. She was also known as Mrs. Norman MacLeod. She is most famous for writing the poem Sound the Pibroch.

About Her Life

Agnes Maxwell was born on the Isle of Mull, a beautiful island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. When she was young, she lived with her aunt and uncle in a place called Drumdrissaig, on the west coast of Knapdale.

Later, when she was older, Agnes went to a special school in Edinburgh called a finishing school. These schools taught young women important skills and manners for society. After finishing school, she returned to Mull.

She met a minister named Reverend Norman MacLeod. A minister is a leader in a church. Four years later, they got married. For almost 60 years, Agnes was a minister's wife. They lived in different towns like Campbeltown, Campsie, and Glasgow, where her husband served at St Columba Church.

Her Poetry

Agnes Maxwell MacLeod came from a family of poets. Her husband was a poet, and her children also wrote poetry. She was a talented poet herself!

She wrote and put together a collection of poems called Songs of the North. This book was later edited by her granddaughter, Annie Campbell MacLeod Wilson, along with Harold Boulton and Malcolm Lawson. The book was even dedicated to Queen Victoria, which means it was presented to her as a special gift or honor.

One of the most famous poems in her collection is Sound the Pibroch. This poem is about the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. This was a time in Scottish history when people tried to bring back the old royal family to the throne. The poem has been recorded by many Scottish folk music bands, including The Corries.