James Traill Calder (1794–1864)[1] was a Scottish local historian who was the author of a History of Caithness.
Born in Castletown, Caithness, Calder studied at the University of Edinburgh. After working as a private tutor for the Rev. Mr. Gunn at Caithness, Calder became the parish teacher at Canisbay.
Calder died at Elwick Bank, Shapinsay, Orkney, on 15 January 1864.[2]
Calder's major work,Sketch of the Civil and Traditional History of Caithness from the Tenth Century, was published in 1861. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, it "remains a standard work".[1]
In 1842 Calder published at Wick Sketches from John o' Groat's in Prose and Verse, which contained a chapter on "Ancient Superstitions and Customs in Caithness". In 1846, he published a volume of poems, The Soldier's Bride.[2]
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