David Masson

Born in Aberdeen in 1822, he studied at Marischal College before building a career in writing and criticism. Early on he worked as a journalist in London, where he became known for essays, reviews, and literary commentary that connected serious scholarship with a broad reading public.

He is especially remembered for his work on major English writers, above all John Milton. His large-scale life of Milton and his studies of British literature helped establish his reputation as a careful historian of ideas as well as a lively critic.

Masson later became Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, a post he held for many years. He died in 1907, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both deep learning and a genuine enthusiasm for literature.