NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Robert Tannahill

Robert Tannahill (June 3, 1774 - May 17, 1810) was a Scottish poet known as the "Paisley Poet". He was born in Paisley to a weaving family and was apprenticed in the same trade from the age of 12. After a short period of working in Bolton around 1800, Tannahill returned to Paisley to support the family in time of illness. In the years which followed, his interest in poetry and music blossomed and his writings began to appear in such publications as The Scots Magazine. In 1810, he died by his own hand, drowned in the Paisley Canal. Image File history File links Robert_Tannahill. ... Image File history File links Robert_Tannahill. ... June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. ... Chesma Column in Tsarskoe Selo, commemorating the end of the Russo-Turkish War. ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification - by Kenneth I... The Chinese poem Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain by Emperor Gaozong (Song Dynasty) Poetry (from the Greek , poiesis, making or creating) is a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning. ... The Royal Burgh of Paisley (Scottish Gaelic: ) is located in the west central lowlands of Scotland. ... This page is about the town of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. ... The Scots Magazine is a magazine containing articles on subjects of Scottish interest. ...

A substantial portion of the introduction to William Motherwell's Harp of Renfrewshire is dedicated to discussion of Tannahill's uneventful and even-tenored existence. He showed no interest in anything outside his own home, town, and family. However, in 1809, he wrote to his friend the Renfrewshire Militiaman James King, "I see no end of this war system", revealing an understanding of the general inability of human beings to resolve serious conflicts embedded within the historical dynamic of our psychological propensity for war. At a more particular level he was focussing on something with a distinctive place in Scottish culture and history. Tannahill was entering the heart of a Scottish political debate although he has not previously been described as a political poet in any sense at all. William Motherwell (October 13, 1797 - 1835), Scottish poet, antiquary and journalist, was born at Glasgow, the son of an ironmonger. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Renfrewshire (Siorrachd Rinn FriÃ¹ in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary authority regions in Scotland. ... Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker A militia is the activity of one or more citizens organized to provide defense or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Tannahill's foray into the political appears a contradiction; the sensitive lyric poet goes to the centre of a political controversy with the use of one simple phrase. The reason it did not appear highly political or controversial at the time is because militarism was a central essential of Scottish culture; so everyday that Tannahill's comment would have appeared unremarkable. Most of the residents of Tannahill's home town of Paisley thought the same thing: namely, that Scotland had been involved in the business of war in one way or another for as far back as they could remember and nothing was likely to happen to change that state of affairs. Lyric can have a number of meanings. ... Militarism or militarist ideology is the doctrinal view of a society as being best served (or more efficient) when it is governed or guided by concepts embodied in the culture, doctrine, system, or people of the military. ...

At least four socio-ideological forces were interacting in Scotland at the time to produce social tension, civil strife and experience of foreign conflict: these were firstly the martial heritage and tradition of mercenary soldiering (the Scotsman as soldier/hero), secondly the Covenanters (radical Presbyterianism, both pro and anti Union), thirdly Jacobitism (the preservation/restoration of the Stuarts) and finally international, social and class conflicts connected with the new arrangements resulting from the industrial revolution. James VI of Scotland (James I of England) was opposed by the Covenanters in his attempt to bring the Anglican Church into Scotland The Covenanters formed an important movement in the religion and politics of Scotland in the 17th century. ... Presbyterianism is a form of Protestant Christianity, primarily in the Reformed branch of Western Christendom, as well as a particular form of church government. ... Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, wearing the Jacobite blue bonnet Jacobitism was (and, to a very limited extent, remains) the political movement dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England and Scotland. ...

From at least the middle of the 16th century up to the present day tensions from one or all of these forces have mingled with pro and anti-English sentiments to manifest themselves in outbursts of differing intensity: from the destruction of Catholic religious icons, to the 1745 Jacobite rising, to the Radical War, to the Battle of George Square, to the Celtic versus Rangers and Scotland versus England football matches. All being events of tense, high drama, passion and conflict centred in the public arena which helped form the cultural consciousness of the Scots. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... // Events May 11 - War of Austrian Succession: Battle of Fontenoy - At Fontenoy, French forces defeat an Anglo-Dutch-Hanoverian army including the Black Watch June 4 â€“ Frederick the Great destroys Austrian army at Hohenfriedberg August 19 - Beginning of the 45 Jacobite Rising at Glenfinnan September 12 - Francis I is elected... The Radical War, also known as the Scottish Insurrection of 1820, was a week of strikes and unrest, a culmination of Radical demands for reform in the United Kingdom which had become prominent in the early years of the French Revolution, but had then been repressed during the long Napoleonic...

Perhaps the most enduring legacy of Robert Tannahill is his poem The Braes of Balquidder (c.1742), the basis for the traditional Scots ballad Will Ye Go Lassie, Go. // Events January 24 - Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ... Scots refers to the Anglic varieties spoken in parts of Scotland. ...