Scotch philologist, born in Dunkitterick, Kirkcudbright, on the 22nd of October 1775. When engaged as a shepherd he acquired, besides a scholarly knowledge of English literature, a mastery of the classics, all the principal European tongues, and Hebrew. The fame of the learned shepherd led to an invitation to Edinburgh, where he obtained a bursary, gave private lessons and continued his linguistic labors, which were extended to Oriental tongues and ancient and modern Abyssinian. In 1806 he became minister of Urr, and in 1812 professor of Oriental languages in Edinburgh University. Among his publications are Oriental Philology: The Grammatical Principles of the Hebrew, Syrian and Other Languages (1812); and an addition of Travels in Abyssinia, by Bruce (1807). He died in Edinburgh on the 15th of April 1813.
