He was called to the bar in 1813; in 1816 he became king's counsel in the exchequer, and practised as an advocate until 1832. He contributed to Allison's Travels in France (1815); his first independent essays were papers in Blackwood's Magazine.
His great work, the History of Scotland (1828-1843) covered the period between 1249 and 1603. While occupied on this work Tytler removed to London, and it was largely owing to his efforts that a scheme for publishing state papers was carried out. Tytler was one of the founders of the Bannatyne Club and of the English Historical Society. He died at Great Malvern on the 14th of December 1849. His life (1859) was written by his friend, John W Burgon, dean of Chichester.
His other works include:
contributions to Thomson's Select Melodies of Scotland (1824)
Life of James Crichton of Cluny, commonly called the Admirable Crichton (1819; 2nd ed., 1823)
a Memoir of Sir Thomas Craig of Riccarton (1823)
an Essay on the Revival of Greek Literature in Italy, and a Life of John Wickliff, published anonymously (1826)
Lives of Scottish Worthies, for Murray's Family Library (1831-1833)
Historical View of the Progress of Discovery in America (1832)
Life of Sir Walter Raleigh (1833)
Life of Henry VIII. (1837)
England under the Reigns of Edward VI. and Mary, from original letters (1839)
Notes on the Darnley Jewel (1843)
Portraits of Mary Queen of Scots (1845).
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica.