Blair Collection > Gaelic bards

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Slios mar eal' air chuantibh
Aig an oigh a 's uaisle fuil ;
Do phog air bhlas nam fioguisean,
'S do bheul o 'm binn 'thig guth ;
'N am eisdeachd fuaim na fidh'laireachd-
Gur finealta do chruth.
DONNACHADH BAN MAC-AN-T-SAOIR.
Duncan Ban Macintyre was bom in Druimlia-
ghart, in Glenorchy, Argyleshire, March 20th,
1724. His early life was spent in hunting and
fishing. He could neilher read nor write. He
joined the Royalists in 1745 as a substitute for
Mr. Fletcher of Glenorchy, who promised him
300 marks, or about $85. He fought at the
Battle of Falkirk, under the command of Colonel
Campbell of Carwhin, January 17th, 1746.
Though fighting for King George he was a
Jacobite at heart, and would rather have been on
the other side. He was an excellent marksman,
and after the suppression of the rebellion was
appointed forester to the Earl of Breadalbane in
Coir'-a-cheathich and Beinn-Dorainn. Some
years afterwards he became forester to the Duke
of Argyll in Buachill-Eite. He served six years
in the Breadalbane P'encibles, or from 1793 to
1799. He held the rank of Sergeant. After
1799 he became one of the city-guard of Edin-
burgh. He retired from the city-guard in 1806.
He died in Edinburgh about the 14th of May,
1812. He was married, but we do not know
whether he had children or not. The first edition
of his poems appeared in 1768. It is said that it
was prepared for publication by the Rev. Dr.
Stewart, minister of Killin, and translator of the
New Testament into Gaelic. Duncan Ban was
one of the ablest poets of the Highlands.