Name William Knox | Role Scottish poet | |
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Died 1825, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Books Oh, why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud? | ||
William Knox (17 August 1789–12 November 1825) was a Scottish poet. He is known for writing Abraham Lincoln's favourite poem, Mortality, which Lincoln often recited by memory.
Life
The eldest son of a Thomas Knox, a farmer, and Barbara Turnbull in Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire, he was educated first in Lilliesleaf then in Musselburgh Grammar School. They lived in a farm (Todrig) which his mother had inherited when her first husband, also a farmer, died.
He farmed unsuccessfully from 1812-1817 then turned to writing, supported by both Christopher North and Sir Walter Scott.
He wrote several books of poetry, The Lonely Hearth (1818), Songs of Israel (1824) which contains "Mortality", Harp of Zion (1825).
He fell into dissipated habits, was latterly a journalist in Edinburgh, and died at 36.
He died aged only 36 in Edinburgh, following a stroke, and is buried in the New Calton Cemetery in its upper east section.