Robert Pollok

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name = Robert Pollok


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birthdate = c. 1798
birthplace = Renfrewshire, Scotland
deathdate = 15 September 1827
deathplace = Shirley, Hampshire, England
occupation = Poet
nationality = Scottish
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Robert Pollok (c. 1798—15 September 1827) was a Scottish poet best known for "The Course of Time", published the year of his death.

Pollok was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Sources differ on the exact year of his birth, some giving 1789, [Cousin, John William. [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13240 Biography of Pollok, Robert (1789-1827)] . "A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature".] some 1798, [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/people/famousfirst605.html Robert Pollok, 1798-1827] . "Gazetteer for Scotland".] [ [http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Robert_Pollok Robert Pollok (1798-1827)] . "Classic Encyclopaedia".] and some 1799. [http://www.electricscotland.com/history/other/pollok_robert.htm Robert Pollok] . "Significant Scots".] [ [http://www.bartleby.com/100/401.html Robert Pollok (1799-1827)] . "Bartleby.com".] He studied at the University of Glasgow for the ministry of the United Secession Church. During this time, he anonymously published three poems: "Helen of the Glen", "The Persecuted Family", and "Ralph Gemmell". [Schaff, Philip. [http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc09/htm/iv.iii.xv.htm Pollok, Robert] . "The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge".] After Pollok's death, these would be published together under his name as "Tales of the Covenanters".

In 1827, shortly before leaving the University, Pollok published what was to be his final and most famous work: "The Course of Time", a ten-book poem in blank verse. By its fourth edition, "The Course of Time" had sold 78,000 copies and was popular as far away as North America.

Later that year, suffering from tuberculosis, Pollok was advised by his doctors to travel to Italy. He left Scotland with this intention, but his health worsened rapidly, and he died at Shirley (at that time near, and now a part of Southampton) on the 15th of September.

A monument to Pollok stands in Newton Mearns, Scotland, at the junction of the Glasgow/Ayr Road and the Old Mearns Road. It was unveiled on September 24 1900, and bears the inscription "Robert Pollok, Author of 'The Course of Time' / Born 1798 Died 1827 / He soared untrodden heights and seemed at home". [cite web
url=http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/txt/heritage/heritage_database_records/heritage_quick_search/heritage-detail.htm?idcall=867&submit=Go&page=8&textsize=undefined
title=Robert Pollok Memorial, Mearns
accessdate=2007-05-23
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date=2006-08-07
work=Portal to the Past - East Renfrewshire's Heritage Collection
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References

Persondata
NAME=Pollok, Robert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Scottish poet
DATE OF BIRTH=circa 1798
PLACE OF BIRTH=Renfrewshire, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH=September 15, 1827
PLACE OF DEATH=Shirley, Hampshire, England