William Ross (poet) facts for kids
William Ross (born 1762, died 1790 or 1791) was a Scottish writer of poems in Scottish Gaelic. He came from the Isle of Skye and worked as a schoolmaster. People often called him "The Bard of Gairloch".
He is known as one of the best love poets of his time. Even though some stories say he died from unrequited love (love that isn't returned), he could also make fun of himself. More than 200 years after his death, William Ross is still an important and respected figure in Scottish Gaelic literature.
One of his most famous songs is Cuachag nan Craobh ("Cuckoo of the Tree"). The tune of this song is now known worldwide as The Skye Boat Song, which has different English lyrics added much later.
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William Ross's Early Life
William Ross was born in Broadford on the Isle of Skye. His father was a traveling peddler, someone who sold goods door-to-door. His mother was the daughter of John Mackay, a famous Gaelic poet and bagpiper. John Mackay, who was blind from age seven, is known as "The Blind Piper."
Ross spent some time in Forres, Morayshire, where he went to a local grammar school to get his education. Later, his family moved to Gairloch in Wester Ross, which was his mother's hometown.
Learning and Talents
As he traveled with his father, William Ross learned many different ways of speaking Gaelic across the western Scottish Highlands. This helped him become very skilled in the Gaelic language.
He was also a talented musician. He sang well and could play several musical instruments. He became both a schoolmaster (teacher) and a catechist (a religious instructor) for the local church in Gairloch. He was very enthusiastic and skilled in these roles until he died.
A Famous Love Story
Around 1780, William Ross met Mòr Ros (Lady Marion Ross) at a formal dance in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. She was from a noble Scottish family. Their short romance became very famous.
Ross wrote some of his best love poetry about her, including Feasgar Luain and Òran Cumhaidh. These poems showed very strong feelings, which was unusual for Gaelic poetry at that time.
Heartbreak and Humor
Sadly, Mòr Ros did not return William Ross's feelings. In 1782, she married an English sailor named Captain Samuel Clough. William Ross was very sad about this.
According to old stories, he prayed for Mrs. Clough to one day feel the same kind of unreturned love. Legend says he died of love, but it was a long process if that was the case.
Even with his sadness, Ross could still joke about his own feelings. In one poem, Oran eadar am Bàrd agus Cailleach-mhilleadh-nan-dàn ("Exchange of Verses between the Poet and the Hag-who-spoils-poems"), he made fun of his own romantic ideas.
Other Important Works
In his 1783 poem Moladh Gheàrrloch ("In Praise of Gairloch"), William Ross wrote about the Highland winter sport of shinty. This game was traditionally played by Scottish people on special holidays like New Year's Day.
Ross's description of the annual shinty match played on the Big Sand of Gairloch is one of the best accounts we have of these big festive games from the past.
His last song, Òran Eile, is considered a very powerful poem about his love and sadness. It is seen as realistic and full of deep feeling.
Later Life and Passing
William Ross died in Gairloch when he was in his twenties, either in 1790 or 1791. He passed away from asthma and tuberculosis.
According to a legend, on the night he died, Mrs. Samuel Clough's dress accidentally caught fire in her house in Liverpool, and she also died.
William Ross's Legacy
It is said that William Ross burned all his written poems. However, his poems survived because people remembered them and passed them down through oral poetry. Later, people wrote them down from those who had memorized them.
Two books of his Gaelic poems were published: Orain Ghae'lach (1830) and An dara clòbhualadh (1834).
Poetic Style and Influence
Even though Ross was well-educated in Gaelic, he didn't seem to write down his poems often. Some of his poems might have been lost. His poetry had a special sensitivity and was very pure, without many English words mixed in.
His poems covered many topics, from Scotch whisky to writing about love and people. He also wrote an important sad poem about the death of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1788. This poem is considered the last true Jacobite poem written in Scotland.
Other famous Gaelic poets from the 1700s, like Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair and Iain mac Fhearchair, were big influences on William Ross.
Later, in the 20th century, William Ross's poetry greatly influenced Sorley MacLean, who is one of the most important figures in Scottish Gaelic literature. MacLean even called Ross's last song, Òran Eile, "one of the very greatest poems ever made in any language" in the British Isles.
See also
- Poetry of Scotland
- Romantic poetry
- Romanticism in Scotland
