Robert Blair (poet) facts for kids

Robert Blair (born April 17, 1699, died February 4, 1746) was a Scottish poet. He is best known for his famous poem called The Grave. Later, this poem was even illustrated by the famous artist William Blake.

Robert Blair: A Poet's Life

Robert Blair was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, also named Robert Blair, was a chaplain for the king. Robert went to the University of Edinburgh for his education. He also studied in the Netherlands.

In 1731, he became a minister in Athelstaneford, a town in East Lothian. He married Isabella Law in 1738. She was the daughter of a professor named William Law. Robert and Isabella had six children together. His family was wealthy, which meant he had time for his hobbies. He loved gardening and reading poems by English writers.

His Famous Poem: The Grave

Robert Blair wrote only three poems that were published. One was a tribute to his father-in-law. Another was a translation of a different work. His most important work is The Grave, which came out in 1743.

This poem is about death and graveyards. It is written in a style called blank verse. This means the lines do not rhyme, but they have a rhythm. Even though the title sounds sad, the poem is quite interesting. It became very popular, especially in Scotland. It even helped start a group of writers called the "graveyard poets." The poem is 767 lines long. Some parts are very powerful, while others are more simple.

Art for The Grave

The Grave is also famous because of the pictures made for it. The artist William Blake was asked to create illustrations for the poem. Blake's drawings were then carved onto plates by Luigi Schiavonetti. These pictures were published with the poem in 1808.