John Ewen facts for kids
John Ewen (1741–1821) was a Scottish businessman and songwriter. He is best known for writing the popular Scottish song, "O weel may the boatie row." This song is still loved today for its beautiful words and melody.
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Who Was John Ewen?
Early Life and Business
John Ewen was born in 1741 in a town called Montrose, Scotland. His family was not wealthy, and he did not get much schooling when he was young. Despite this, John was determined to make his own way.
When he was about 21 years old, in 1762, he saved up a small amount of money. He then moved to Aberdeen, a larger city, where he started his own small shop selling hardware. His business did well, and he became more successful.
Family and Fortune
In 1766, John Ewen married Janet Middleton. Her father was a successful maker of yarn and stockings in Aberdeen. Sadly, Janet passed away soon after giving birth to their daughter. Through his marriage, John inherited a significant part of his father-in-law's wealth, which helped him become even more financially secure.
His Famous Song: "O Weel May the Boatie Row"
John Ewen is most remembered for his song, "O weel may the boatie row." This song was first published without his name in a collection called 'Johnson's Scots Musical Museum.'
The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns greatly admired the song. He described it as a "charming display of womanly affection." Burns felt the song beautifully mixed feelings of love with everyday life and work. He even said it was almost as good as another well-known song, "There's nae luck about the house."
A Legacy That Wasn't: Ewen's Will
John Ewen died on October 21, 1821. He was a very generous person. In his will, he wanted to leave a lot of money to help others. After giving some money to charities in Aberdeen, he planned to use about £14,000 to build a hospital in Montrose. This hospital would have been similar to Gordon's Hospital in Aberdeen. Its purpose was to care for and educate boys who needed help.
However, John Ewen's will faced a legal challenge. His daughter's relatives argued that the will was not clear enough. They said it didn't precisely state how much money should be saved before building the hospital or how many boys it would help. After several court decisions, the case went to the House of Lords in London. In 1830, the House of Lords decided that the will was not valid because it lacked these important details. Because of this, the hospital John Ewen dreamed of building was never created.
