James Macpherson (1736-1796) was born at Ruthven in Badenoch, Scotland. Known primarily as the author, editor or forger of The Poems of Ossian, he also had an eventful career in letters and politics. Born into an illegitimate branch of the Macphersons of Cluny (James’ father was the illegitimate older brother of the then clan chief Ewan Macpherson of Cluny), Macpherson spent a tumultuous childhood in the Highlands, and may well (though the evidence is not certain) have witnessed some violent events during the final Jacobite rising of 1745 when the Macphersons of Cluny were ‘Out’ for the Prince. He was certainly brought up in a Gaeltachd undergoing traumatic change. He was educated first at King’s, then Marschal College Aberdeen, w

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First published 06 October 2004

Citation: Moore, Dafydd. "James Macpherson". The Literary Encyclopedia. 6 October 2004.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2869, accessed 9 February 2010.]