Author: William Woodrow

Publication: A Poem in Commemoration of Our Poet Tannahill's Birthday

Published: 1887

Place of publication: Paisley, Scotland

Publication type: Broadside

Featured individuals:
Albert, Prince Consort (1819-1861)
Queen Victoria (1819-1901)
Robert Burns (1759-1796)
Robert Tannahill (1774-1810)

No full copy of this poem is available.

Archive/Library: Paisley Central Library
Classmark(s): Paisley Pamphlets, 1887 (Volume 75)

This long poem (32 verses, each of 4 lines) commemorates Tannahill and also marks Queen Victoria's jubilee. The context of protest over land rights in the Highlands, however, looms large. This was an important element of the parliamentary contests immediately following the Third Franchise Act which returned Crofters' Party MPs in Highland constituencies. The poet notes: 'Old Scotland wants no English laws,/ To desolate the Highlands'.