Skip to content
Home
Favourites
0
Advanced search
Shopping cart
0
Register
Log in
Images of Edinburgh
Browse map
Area A - Z
Browse by date
Exhibitions
Current exhibition
All exhibitions
Collections
About the collections
Browse by theme
Subject A - Z
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries
Images of Edinburgh
Browse map
Area A - Z
Browse by date
Exhibitions
Current exhibition
All exhibitions
Collections
About the collections
Browse by theme
Subject A - Z
Subject matches "Wigs" or its children
Back to search results
James Boswell
Dance, George (the Younger), 1808, Engraving
Item
of 12
James Boswell
James Boswell
Add to favourites
Share
Item record
About this image
Related
Location
Category
Library Item
Item no
40663
Title
James Boswell
Artist / maker
Dance, George (the Younger)
Engraver
William Daniell
Date
1808
Size
26.9 x 19.8 cm
Type
Engraving
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
James Boswell was born at Edinburgh, October 29, 1740, eldest son of Alexander Boswell, Esquire, and Judge in the Supreme Court of Session and Justiciary in Scotland, deriving the local title of Lord Auchinleck from an ancient Barony in Ayrshire.
Under paternal auspices he embraced the profession of the Law, and was an Advocate in the Court of Session; until, desirous of enlarging the sphere of his talents, he entered his name as a Student in the Inner Temple of London, and was enrolled among the Members of the English Bar.
In the Year 1763 he was first introduced to the acquaintance and friendship of the celebrated Dr Samuel Johnson, whose Memoirs from the pen of Mr Boswell, will long remain a monument of the virtues and singularities of the Philosopher, and of the biographical talents of the enthusiastic Author.
In 1764 he made the tour of a part of the Continent, and visited Pascal Paoli in Corsica, Voltaire at Fernay, and Rousseau amidst the Wilds of Neufchatel, and returned to his native land in 1766.
In 1769 he married Miss Margaret Montgomery, by whom he had two sons and three daughters.
In 1791 he received from the Royal Academy of Arts the honorary appointment of Secretary for Foreign Correspondence.
Besides his chief work, the Life of Dr Johnson, he published at various periods, occasional Essays in Prose and Verse: 'Letters to the People of Scotland', in which he approved himself a strenuous defender of the principles and liberties of his native country, and no less warm an advocate of those of England. An Account of Corsica, with Memoirs of General Pascal Paoli; and a Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides.
Possessing a happy flow of conversation, ready abilities, and much general information, he lived in habits of familiar acquaintance with the most eminent persons of his time.
He died May 20, 1795.
Exhibitions with this item
Other views of this item
Related images
Related subjects
Clothing and dress
>
Accessories
>
Wigs
People
>
Adults
>
Men
People
>
Entertainment and sports
>
Writers
Places
>
Scotland
>
Edinburgh
More like this
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital File
Electronic file 72 dpi JPEG
£6.10
(inc. VAT 20%)
Add
Digital File
Electronic File 300 dpi TIFF
£31.00
(inc. VAT 20%)
Add
You can view and use digital images for personal and educational use. For more information, read our
policy on image use
.
If you wish to use our images for commercial use, please
contact us
.
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries