Ewen MacLachlan (Gaelic: Eòghann MacLachlainn) (1775–1822) was a Scottish scholar and poet. He is noted for his translations of ancient classical literature into

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

, for his own Gaelic verse, and for his contribution to Gaelic dictionaries. MacLachlan is considered one of the most important figures in the preservation of Gaelic as a written language and written literature.

Life

MacLachlan was born in

Lochaber Lochaber ( ; gd, Loch Abar) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig, as they were before being reduced in extent by the creation ...

, and educated at

Aberdeen University , mottoeng = The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , established = , type = Public research universityAncient university , endowment = £58.4 million (2021) , budget ...

. He was librarian to University and Kings College, Aberdeen from 1800–1818, and headmaster of Aberdeen

grammar school A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school ...

from 1810–1822. He translated the first eight books of

Homer Homer (; grc, Ὅμηρος , ''Hómēros'') (born ) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the ''Iliad'' and the ''Odyssey'', two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the ...

's ''

Iliad The ''Iliad'' (; grc, Ἰλιάς, Iliás, ; "a poem about Ilium") is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odysse ...

'' into Gaelic. He also composed and published his own Gaelic ''Attempts in Verse'' (1807) and ''Metrical Effusions'' (1816), and contributed greatly to the 1828 Gaelic–English Dictionary.

Ionad Eòghainn MhicLachlainn (The National Centre for Gaelic Translation)

In 2021, Ionad Eòghainn MhicLachlainn (The National Centre for Gaelic Translation) was founded at the

University of Aberdeen The University of Aberdeen ( sco, University o' 'Aiberdeen; abbreviated as ''Aberd.'' in List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom), post-nominals; gd, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain) is a public university, public research university in Aberdeen, Sc ...

, to promote and enhance translation out of and into Gaelic, and was named in MacLachlan's honour.

References

*Anderson, Peter John. ''Ewen MacLachlan: Librarian to University and Kings College, Aberdeen, 1800-1818''. Aberdeen: University Press, 1918.

Notes

External links

*
Ewen MacLachlan's works
on GoogleBooks
Ewen MacLachlan
in ''Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia''
Ewen MacLachlan
in ''The Poets and Poetry of Scotland''
Ewen MacLachlan
in ''Sar-obair nam Bard Gaelach, or The Beauties of Gaelic Poetry and Lives of the Highland Bards'', edited by John Mackenzie
Ionad Eòghainn MhicLachlainn (The National Centre for Gaelic Translation)
1822 deaths 1775 births 19th-century British translators 19th-century Scottish Gaelic poets 19th-century Scottish writers Academics of the University of Aberdeen Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Scottish classical scholars Scottish lexicographers Scottish scholars and academics Scottish translators Scottish book editors Scottish Gaelic language Translators of Homer Translators to Scottish Gaelic {{Scotland-translator-stub

Life

Ionad Eòghainn MhicLachlainn (The National Centre for Gaelic Translation)

See also

References

Notes

External links