William Edmondstoune Aytoun

Born in Edinburgh in 1813, William Edmondstoune Aytoun trained in law but became best known as a poet, critic, and academic. He studied at the University of Edinburgh, was called to the Scottish bar, and later became professor of rhetoric and belles lettres at the university.

Aytoun grew up in a family with strong literary interests, and he was especially influenced by his mother’s love of Scottish ballads and history. That interest stayed with him throughout his career, appearing in his work as a collector of traditional ballads and in popular books such as Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers. He was also a longtime contributor to Blackwood's Magazine.

Alongside his serious historical verse, Aytoun earned lasting attention for wit and parody. With Theodore Martin he produced the Bon Gaultier Ballads, and his mock-tragic Firmilian became a well-known send-up of the more overheated poetry of the period. He died in 1865, leaving a body of work remembered for its energy, humor, and strong Scottish character.