James Traill Calder (1794–1864)[1] was a Scottish local historian who was the writer of a History of Caithness.
Life
editBorn in Castletown, Caithness, Calder studied at the University of Edinburgh. After working as a private tutor for the Rev. Mr. Gunn at Caithness, Calder became the parish teacher at Canisbay.
Calder died at Elwick Bank, Shapinsay, Orkney, on 15 January 1864.[2]
Works
edit
Calder's major work, Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History of Caithness from the Tenth Century, was published in 1861.[3] According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, it "remains a standard work".[1]
In 1842 Calder published at Wick Sketches from John o' Groat's in Prose and Verse, which contained a chapter on "Ancient Superstitions and Customs in Caithness". In 1846, he published a volume of poems, The Soldier's Bride.[2]
Notes
edit- 1 2 Matthew, H. C. G. "Calder, James Traill". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/4367. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)
- 1 2 Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1886). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 8. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- ↑ James T[raill] Calder (1861). Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History of Caithness, from the Tenth Century. Glasgow: Thomas Murray and Son; Edinburgh: Paton and Ritchie; Golspie: William Begg; Wick: Reid and Rae; Thurso: Miss Russell; London: Arthur Hall, Virtue and Co. OCLC 10348125.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1886). "Calder, James Tait". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 8. London: Smith, Elder & Co.