Amanuensis of Sir Walter Scott. Also a friend of James Hogg, the Ettrick shepherd wgo came to his farm as a shepherd in 1789. After leaving Abbotsford he was appointed Factor on the Ross-shire property of Mrs Stewart Mackenzie of Seaforth, and afterwards occupied a similar position on the estate of Sir Charles Ross of Balnagowan in the same county. At the end of his life he was residing with his brother at Contin.