Arthur Johnston (poet) facts for kids
Arthur Johnston (born around 1579, died 1641) was a talented Scottish poet and physician. He was born in a place called Caskieben (which is now known as Keithhall), close to Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His father, Sir George Johnston, was a local laird (a Scottish landowner). His mother, Christian Forbes, was the daughter of Lord Forbes.
Contents
Arthur Johnston's Life and Studies
Arthur Johnston likely started his university studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Around 1608, he traveled to Italy. There, he earned his M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree from the famous Padua University in 1610.
Life in Europe
After his studies, Johnston lived in Sedan, which was then a small independent state called the Principality of Sedan. He worked as a professor at the Academy of Sedan. He was there with Andrew Melville, a Scottish scholar who was living in exile. By 1619, Johnston was working as a doctor in Paris, France.
Return to Scotland
Arthur Johnston seems to have returned to Scotland around 1625, when King James VI died. By 1628, he was in Aberdeen. In 1633, he met William Laud in Edinburgh. This was during the time of King Charles I's Scottish coronation.
A Poet's Work
In 1633, Arthur Johnston published a book called Cantici Salomonis paraphrasis poetica. This book was dedicated to King Charles I. Because of this, he caught the attention of William Laud, who was a powerful church leader.
Encouraged by Laud
Laud encouraged Johnston to continue his writing. This might have been to challenge the fame of another Scottish Latin poet, George Buchanan. In June 1637, Johnston was appointed as the head (rector) of King's College, Aberdeen.
Main Works
Johnston wrote more than ten books, all in Latin. Two of his most important works were published in the same year, 1637:
- His version of the Psalms (songs from the Bible), titled Psalmorum Davidis paraphrasis poetica et canticorum evangelicorum. This was published in Aberdeen.
- A collection of Latin poems by Scottish poets of his time, called Deliciae poetarum Scotorum huius aevi illustrium. This was published in Amsterdam.
Laud had encouraged Johnston to write the full version of the Psalms. For a while, Johnston's Psalms were very popular and competed with Buchanan's version. The Deliciae was a large collection of poems. It was a patriotic effort, similar to other popular poetry collections in Europe at the time.
Later Publications
Johnston dedicated the Deliciae to John Scot of Scotstarvet. After Johnston's death, Scotstarvet paid for his collected works to be published in 1642. Johnston also published a book of short, witty poems called epigrams in Aberdeen in 1632. These poems showed his writing skills at their best.
End of Life
Arthur Johnston died in Oxford in 1641. He was on his way to London because William Laud had invited him.
Family
His niece, Isobel Johnston, married Peter Blackburn, who was a Bishop of Aberdeen.
See also
- Scottish literature
