Robert Nicoll facts for kids
Robert Nicoll (born January 7, 1814 – died December 7, 1837) was a talented Scottish poet. Even though he lived a short life, his poems and ideas made a big difference.
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Robert Nicoll's Early Life
Robert Nicoll was born on January 7, 1814, on a farm called Little Tullybeltane in Perthshire, Scotland. When he was five years old, his family became very poor. His father had to work hard as a day laborer.
Robert's mother, Grace Fenwick, was very important to his education. She taught Robert and his eight siblings how to read and write. Robert was the second son, but his older brother passed away as a child. This made Robert the oldest son.
His mother remembered that Robert was a very quick learner. He was speaking like an 18-month-old when he was only nine months old! By the age of five, Robert was already reading the New Testament. When his family was very poor, his mother didn't have much time to read. Robert would read books aloud to her while she worked.
Robert had several teachers. One important teacher was Mr. Marshall. Robert wrote to his mother about Mr. Marshall's death, saying, "I myself owe more to him than years can repay. I could read before I knew him, but he taught me to think." Another teacher, James Anderson, was also a poet.
When Robert was 16, he started working as an apprentice for a grocer and wine merchant in Perth. He continued to study on his own. He bought an English grammar book and learned it well. He then started writing his own works.
Robert Nicoll's Writing Career
In 1833, Robert began writing for Johnstone's Magazine, which later became Tait's Magazine. The next year, his apprenticeship ended. He visited Edinburgh and was welcomed there, but he couldn't find a job right away.
In 1835, Robert published his first book, Poems and Lyrics. It was printed by William Tait in Edinburgh. He dedicated the book to a popular Scottish writer named "Mrs. Johnstone" (Christian Isobel Johnstone). Many people thought his best poems were those written in the Scottish dialect. Because of his talent and how early he started writing, Robert Nicoll was often compared to another famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns.
One of Nicoll's most famous poems is "God is Everywhere." It was published in 1840. Here is how it begins:
| A TRODDEN daisy, from the sward, | |
| With tearful eye I took, | |
| And on its ruined glories I, | |
| With moving heart, did look; | |
| For, crushed and broken though it was, | |
| That little flower was fair; | |
| And oh! I loved the dying bud, | |
| For God was there! |
After his book was published, Nicoll opened a library in Dundee. In 1836, he became the editor of the Leeds Times newspaper. He also joined groups in Leeds that worked for social and political changes, like the Leeds Working Men's Association.
While in Dundee, Robert tried to work with a business partner for his library. But the library wasn't making enough money for two people. In 1836, Robert gave the business completely to his partner. He didn't gain any money from it, which worried his mother.
On December 9, 1836, Robert Nicoll married Alice Griffiths Suter in Dundee. Their marriage was happy. However, they faced a lot of money problems. They had to pay off Robert's old debts, support themselves, and care for Alice's mother, who lived with them.
Robert Nicoll's Illness and Death
Robert Nicoll strongly believed in Radical political ideas. He worked very hard for Sir William Molesworth during an election in the summer of 1837. This hard work put a lot of strain on his health.
Because of the stress and exhaustion from the election, he had to leave his job as editor. His health was getting worse. In his last letter to his mother, dated September 13, 1837, he admitted how sick he was. He said he hadn't told her earlier because he didn't want to worry her. His medicines made him lose his appetite, which made his health decline even faster.
Robert Nicoll passed away on December 7, 1837. He was at the home of his friend, William Tait, near Edinburgh. He had fought a long illness caused by stress, exhaustion, and not eating or resting enough.
After his death, more about Robert Nicoll was shared. In 1844, a second edition of Poems and Lyrics was released. It included a story about his life written by Christian Isobel Johnstone. Later, in 1851, Charles Kingsley wrote about Nicoll's character and poetry. In 1884, Peter Robert Drummond wrote a detailed book about Robert Nicoll's life. One of his poems, "We are Lowly," was even set to music.
Robert Nicoll's Works
- Poems and Lyrics (1835)
