Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/268

Macpherson farmer, was closely related to the chief of the northern clan of that name. His mother, Ellen, was daughter of a respectable tacksman of the second branch of the clan. Macpherson was educated at home, and at the district school in Badenoch, where the talent he showed decided his relations to bring him up to a learned profession. Accordingly in February 1753 he entered King's College, Aberdeen. In 1755 two months were added to the length of the annual session, and Macpherson consequently migrated, with other poor students, to Marischal College. He then went, probably as a student of divinity, to the university of Edinburgh, but though he read widely, he took no degree either there or at Aberdeen. In Edinburgh he did some hack-work for booksellers, and during his vacations, and also after he left the university, he taught in the village school at Ruthven. Although he prepared for the ministry, and Gray in 1760 spoke of him as a young clergyman, it is doubtful if he took orders.

At college, between the ages of seventeen and twenty-two, he is said to have composed over four thousand verses (Poems of Ossian, ed. Laing, 1807, i. p. viii). His earliest were, on ‘Death,’ in blank verse, and ‘The Hunter,’ in heroics. He also attempted an ode, in the manner of Pindar, on ‘The Arrival of the Earl Marischal in Scotland.’ Various pieces in the ‘Scots Magazine,’ signed ‘J. M.,’ are probably his, besides several signed ‘M.’ in a ‘Collection of Original Poetry by Blacklock and other Scots Gentlemen,’ Edinburgh, 1766. In 1758 he published at Edinburgh ‘The Highlander,’ a more ambitious effort; but, like all his early poetry, it was a failure, and he afterwards wished to suppress it.

On leaving Ruthven he sought employment as a private tutor, an occupation not to his taste (, Life of Hume, i. 464). In the autumn of 1759 he was at Moffat with the son of Mr. Graham of Balgowan, afterwards Lord Lynedoch. There he met John Home, the author of ‘Douglas,’ and Dr. Carlyle of Inveresk, both of whom were interested in ancient highland poetry. Macpherson repeated to them Gaelic verses from memory, and showed others in manuscript, which he said he had collected among the highlanders. At Home's request he translated in a day or two a fragment entitled ‘The Death of Oscar.’ Home and Carlyle, much pleased with it, asked for more; and when Macpherson produced some sixteen translated pieces, which he described as portions of a greater work, they strongly urged him to publish them. Macpherson reluctantly yielded, but afterwards stated that ‘his highland pride was alarmed at appearing to the world only as a translator’ (Letter from George Laurie, given in, op. cit. ii. 46–50).

Home took the manuscripts with him to Edinburgh, where Dr. Hugh Blair [q. v.] was greatly struck by them, and to London, where they excited interest in literary circles. At length Macpherson published them at Edinburgh in July 1760, under the title, ‘Fragments of Ancient Poetry collected in the Highlands,’ with an introduction by Blair, who pronounced them genuine remains of ancient Scottish poetry. They were well received. Gregory and Lord Kames joined Blair in pronouncing them genuine, and Macpherson became a man of note. Although Gray was warm in praise of the poems, he was doubtful ‘whether they were the invention of antiquity or of a modern Scotchman’ (, Life of Gray, 1807, ii. 167–73). Hume inclined to a belief in their authenticity, and described Macpherson as a modest, sensible young man.

In the preface to the ‘Fragments’ Blair referred to the existence of a longer poem, in epic form, relating at great length the wars of Fion or Fingal, and said he thought it might, with trouble, be collected entire. But Macpherson showed reluctance to undertake the task. Home encouraged him to persevere, and was of so much service at this period that, probably in recognition of it, Macpherson left him 2,000l. (, Biog. Dram. i. 362). Lord Elibank, Robertson, Adam Fergusson, Robert Chalmers, and others, met together at dinner to discuss means of raising the requisite funds; and Macpherson, who was present, at their persuasion agreed to undertake the search. A subscription list was started by the Faculty of Advocates, and Hume, among others, contributed.

Armed with letters of introduction to the gentry and clergy, Macpherson then made two journeys to the highlands. The first was to the north-west of Inverness-shire, and the isles of Skye, Uist, and Benbecula, and on a part of it he was accompanied by Lachlan Macpherson of Strathmashie, who assisted him by taking down poems as they were orally recited, and transcribing others from old manuscripts. From Ewen Macpherson, who met him at Knock, in Sleat, he obtained other poems orally recited in different places, and taken down in his absence, together with a book of Gaelic poems, given to Ewen Macpherson by Macmhurich, the representative of a long line of bards attached to the family of Clanranald. Macpherson also visited Captain Morrison in Skinnader, Skye,