1841 — 1901
British poet, novelist and dramatist
Son of Robert Buchanan (1813—1866), Owenite lecturer and journalist,

Born at Caverswall, Staffordshire, on the 18th of August 1841.

His father, a native of Ayr, after living for some years in Manchester, removed to Glasgow, where Buchanan was educated.

Buchanan’s poems were collected into three volumes in 1874, into one volume in 1884; and as Complete Poetical Works (2 vols., 1901).

Among his poems should also be mentioned:

• “The Drama of Kings” (1871)

• “St Abe and his Seven Wives,” a lively tale of Salt Lake City, published anonymously in 1872

• “Balder the Beautiful” (1877)

• “ The City of Dream (1888)

• “The Outcast: a Rhyme for the Time” (1891)

• “The Wandering Jew” (1893).

His earlier novels:

• The Shadow of The Sword, and God and the Man (1881), a striking tale of a family feud, are distinguished by a certain breadth and simplicity of treatment which is not so noticeable in their successors, among which may be mentioned The Martyrdom of Madeline (1882);

• Foxglove Manor (1885);

• Effie Hetheringlon (1896);

• Fathcr Anthony (1898).

• David Gray and other Essays, chiefly on Poetry (1868);

• Master Spirits (1873);

• A Poet’s Sketch Book (1883), in which the interesting essay on Gray is reprinted;

• A Look round Literature (1887), contain Buchanan’s chief contributions to periodical literature.

More valuable is

• The Land of Lorne (2 vols., 1871), a vivid record of yachting experiences on the west coast of Scotland.

On Friday, 19th October, 1900, Robert Buchanan suffered a massive stroke which left him paralysed and without the power of speech. He remained in this condition for the next eight months until his death on Monday, 10 June, 1901. He was buried in Southend on 14th June beside the graves of his wife and mother.