Ebenezer Picken facts for kids

Ebenezer Picken (born January 1769 – died 1816) was a Scottish poet and songwriter. People often called him "The Poet of Paisley." He wrote poems in both English and Scots. He also created a dictionary of Scottish words. This dictionary was published after he passed away.

About Ebenezer Picken

His Early Life

Ebenezer Picken was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1769. His family lived on Wellmeadow Street. He was baptized on January 26, 1769. His parents were Ebenezer Picken and Agnes Ingraham. His father was a weaver. He moved to Paisley because handloom weaving was popular there. Ebenezer was their only son. His father made sure he got a good education. He went to the Paisley Grammar School. His father hoped he would become a minister.

Education and Work

From 1785 to 1790, Picken studied at the University of Glasgow. He was preparing for church work. But he loved poetry even more. He published his first book of poems when he was just 18 years old in 1787.

He was good friends with Alexander Wilson. Wilson was a poet and studied birds. They both lived in Paisley. In 1791, Picken and Wilson went to a poetry debate in Edinburgh. They argued about who was the best Scottish poet. Picken thought Allan Ramsay was the best. Wilson chose Robert Fergusson. Neither of them won the prize. They later published their debate speeches together. The pamphlet was called "The Laurel Disputed."

In 1791, Picken started a school in Falkirk. Soon after, he married Robina Belfrage. Her father was a church minister. By the end of 1791, Picken became a teacher. He taught at a school in Carron, Stirlingshire for five years. He faced financial difficulties during this time.

In 1796, Picken moved to Edinburgh. He tried to start a new business. But it was not successful. So, he went back to teaching. He taught languages and music from his home. His home was on Bristo Street in Edinburgh. This street and its buildings were later removed.

Later Years and Passing

Picken and his family lived with financial struggles in Edinburgh. His teaching and selling poetry subscriptions did not bring in enough money. His health slowly got worse. He passed away in 1816 at age 47. He left behind his wife, Robina, three sons, and two daughters.

His Family's Legacy

Picken made sure his two daughters received a good education. Their names were Catherine and Joanna Belfrage Picken. They tried to open a boarding school. This was in Musselburgh, Midlothian. But it did not work out well. Joanna Picken had written some poems that made fun of local people. In 1842, they moved to Montreal, Quebec in Canada. Joanna Picken followed her father's path. She taught music and published her own poetry.

Picken's second son was Andrew Belfrage Picken (1802–1842). He worked for a man named Gregor MacGregor. Later, he returned to Edinburgh. He also faced financial hardship. He then moved to Montreal. There, he became a drawing teacher and a poet.

His Works and Influence

Ebenezer Picken's most important works were his "Poems and Epistles." This book included a list of Scottish words. His "Pocket Dictionary of the Scottish Dialect" was also very important. These books were major sources for John Jamieson's Scottish dictionary. Jamieson's dictionary was the first complete dictionary of the Scots language. It was also the first to look at the history of words.

Picken's own dictionary had 5,000 words. It was published in 1818, after his death. It was published without his name on it. Jamieson's work later gave credit to Picken for many definitions.

During his life, Picken was popular for his funny poems, descriptions, and songs. Some of his songs were still well-known in Scotland even in the 1890s. George Eyre-Todd, a writer, noted that Picken's best writing was in these songs. He felt that Picken's other poems were similar to those of Robert Burns.

In 1815, a year before he died, Picken helped Dr. Andrew Duncan. They published a book about inscriptions in Edinburgh graveyards. Dr. Duncan made sure all the money from the book went to Picken and his family. He wrote that people buying the book would help "a Man of Genius." He called Picken "an unfortunate trader, but a respectable Poet."