Galt, John

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

John (1770-1839), a Scottish novelist. He was born at Irvine, Ayrshire. He attempted a mercantile life, but failed. He then tried the law without success. After a tour of southern Europe, during which he formed the acquaintance of Byron, he returned to England and published several books of travel, a life of Cardinal Wolsey, and several tragedies which were severely criticized. In 1820 and 1821 The Ayrshire Legatees appeared in Blackwood's Magazine, and proved a great success. Annals of the Parish, The Provost, The Steamboat, and Sir Andrew Wyllie followed and were warmly received. He next tried his hand at historical novels, publishing Ringan Gilhaize, The Omen, and others. These were not as successful as his less ambitious stories. In 1826 he became superintendent of the Canada Company, and for several years was occupied in colonization work. The town of Galt, Ontario, was named for him. Finding that he was not especially adapted to this work, Galt returned to England and again devoted himself to literary pursuits. His works include about fifty volumes of novels, twenty plays, and many biographical works and books of travel. Galt was a voluminous and unequal writer; but while several of his productions are already forgotten, others of them will perish only with the language. In depicting provincialism, in representing life as it flows on in small towns and villages--communities in which the successful shopkeeper may aspire to be the chief magistrate, and in which the minister is the most important personage--he is without a rival. He has founded a school of writers in Scotland, but as yet his followers have produced no work equal to The Provost or The Annals of the Parish.--Chambers.