George Chalmers

Born in Fochabers, Moray, in 1742, George Chalmers studied at King’s College, Aberdeen, then emigrated to Maryland in 1763. He worked as a lawyer in Baltimore, but the American Revolution changed the course of his life: as a Loyalist, he left for Britain in 1775 and never returned to live in America.

Back in London, he built a career in government service and writing. He became known for political works on the American colonies, including Plain Truth and later An Introduction to the History of the Revolt of the American Colonies. Over time, his interests widened from politics into antiquarian research, and he devoted himself to historical documents, old records, and literary questions.

Chalmers is now especially remembered for Caledonia, his ambitious multi-volume account of Scotland’s history and topography. He also wrote on subjects as varied as Shakespeare, Thomas Paine, and Scottish literary history. He died in London on May 31, 1825, leaving behind the work of a tireless compiler and researcher whose books preserve a great deal of older historical material.