Elizabeth Scott (poet) explained

Elizabeth Scot(t) (17 July 1729 – 1789), born Elizabeth Rutherford, was an eighteenth-century Scottish poet who composed stanzas from a young age.[1]

Biography

Elizabeth was born 17 July 1729 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the daughter of Alice Watson and advocate David Rutherford. Her aunt Alison Cockburn was also a poet[1] and she was encouraged to write by the Scottish poet Allan Ramsay.[2] Elizabeth married Walter Scot in 1768. Together they lived at Wauchope House near Jedburgh, Scotland.[1]

Scot is most known for the poetic epistle titled ‘The Guidwife of Wauchope-house to Robert Burns', which she wrote for Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1787. Burns visited her on his Scottish tour.[3] Other correspondents who supported her work include Enlightenment author Allan Ramsey and author Thomas Blacklock.[1]

References

  1. Book: The new biographical dictionary of Scottish women. Elizabeth. Ewan. Rose. Pipes. Jane. Rendall. Siân. Reynolds. Second. 2018. 978-1-4744-3628-1. Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh. 379–380. 1057237368.
  2. Book: Burns, Robert. The Oxford Edition of the Works of Robert Burns. 2014. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-960317-6. en.
  3. Web site: Robert Burns Country: The Burns Encyclopedia: Scott, Mrs Elizabeth. nee Rutherford (1729-1789). 2021-02-03. www.robertburns.org.