Biography

William Livingston was born in September 1808 in Kilarrow, Islay, the son of James Livingston, a carpenter working for Walter Campbell who owned the Islay estate, and Christina MacFadyen. He was raised on the Gartmain Farm, near Bowmore. In his youth he a was bit restless and showed little interest in school. He began working with cattle at a young age but later learned the trade of tailoring. He left Islay and spent time working in various places, including Dumbarton, Arrochar, Comrie in Perthshire, and Strathearn, where he met his wife. They settled in Greenock and later moved to Glasgow, where he spent most of his life working as a tailor.

William had a particular interest in ancient Scottish history, especially the history of the Gaels. He taught himself about Celtic history and European languages such as Latin, French, and Greek. A nationalist at heart, he was a strong advocate for the Gaelic language and published Vindication of the Celtic Charter in 1850. He wrote a history of Scotland too but only parts of this were published. His passion for ancient history is reflected in some of his poems, including Na Lochlannaich an Ìle, Cath Monadh Bhraca, Blàr Dhail Rìgh, Cath Allt a’ Bhannaich and Blàr Thràigh Ghruinneard. Livingston isn’t remembered as much for his epic poems, but for poems such as Fios Chun a’ Bhàird. Despite the injustices of his own time, this is especially evident in the long, heroic poems.

A collection of his poetry, Duain agus Òrain, edited by the Reverend Robert Blair, was published in 1882 by the Islay Society. The scholar Donald Meek, in his book Tuath is Tighearna (Scottish Gaelic Texts Society, 1995), suggests that it is likely that Livingston wrote the powerful song Fios Chun a' Bhàird after many people from Ceàrn na h-Oa, in south west Islay, emigrated to Canada in 1862-63 because of the policies on the estate of John Ramsay of Kildalton.

William Livingston passed away suddenly in July 1870 and was buried in Janefield Cemetery on the east side of Glasgow.

List of compositions

Fios Chun a' Bhàird