author
Samuel Cowan
1835–1914
A Scottish historian and journalist with a deep interest in royal intrigue and local history, he wrote lively works on Mary, Queen of Scots, the Gowrie Conspiracy, and the House of Stuart. His books reflect both a reporter’s eye for detail and an antiquarian’s love of the past.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in 1835, Samuel Cowan was a Scottish historian, antiquarian, biographer, publisher, and journalist. He is best known for books such as Mary Queen of Scots and Who Wrote the Casket Letters (1901), The Gowrie Conspiracy (1902), The Ancient Capital of Scotland (1904), and The Royal House of Stuart (1908).
Cowan spent much of his working life in journalism. From 1866 to 1907, he was the printer and publisher of the Perthshire Advertiser, a role that helps explain the clear, documentary style of his historical writing. He was also a justice of the peace and a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
His writing often centered on Scottish history, especially contested episodes, royal biographies, and the story of Perth. He died on June 18, 1914. No suitable verified portrait image was confirmed from the sources reviewed here, so a profile image is not included.