author
1835–1914
A Scottish journalist and historian with a strong feel for the drama of the past, he wrote lively works on Mary, Queen of Scots, the Stuart dynasty, and old Perth. His career also bridged the newsroom and the printing office, giving his historical writing a clear, grounded voice.
Samuel Cowan was a Scottish historian, antiquarian, biographer, publisher, and journalist who died on June 18, 1914. 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).
Alongside his historical work, Cowan spent many years in newspaper publishing. From 1866 to 1907, he was the printer and publisher of the Perthshire Advertiser, a role that helps explain the direct, public-facing style of his writing. He was also a justice of the peace and a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Available sources indicate that he was born in 1835, married Jane Jack in 1864, and had one son and two daughters. At the time of his death, the family was living in Edinburgh. No suitable confirmed portrait image was found from the pages reviewed, so a profile image is not included.