John Gibson Lockhart (1794–1854) was a Scottish writer, editor, and biographer, best known for Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. (1837–38; enlarged 1839.) His career spanned journalism, fiction, and historical writing.
Born in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Lockhart studied at the University of Glasgow and Balliol College-Oxford, excelling in classical studies. Initially pursuing law, he soon turned to literature, contributing to Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (1817,) where his sharp critiques gained attention.
He authored novels including Reginald Dalton (1823,) Adam Blair (1822,) and Valerius: A Roman Story (1821,) showcasing historical and psychological depth. His Life of Burns (1828) offered an insightful account of Robert Burns.
In 1825, Lockhart became editor of The Quarterly Review, shaping British literary and political discourse until 1853. His biography of Sir Walter Scott, his father-in-law, remains a landmark literary work, blending admiration with critical analysis.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by John Gibson Lockhart
Melancholy, or low spirits, is that hysterical passion which forces unbidden sighs and tears. It falls upon a contented life, like a drop of ink on white paper, which is none the less a stain that it carries no meaning with it.
—John Gibson Lockhart
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