John Imlah (1799-1846), was a Scottish poet. Imlah was the son of an innkeeper. He was born in Aberdeen on 15 November 1799. On completing his education at the

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 ...

, he was apprenticed as piano-tuner to a local music seller, and ultimately secured an appointment in the London house of Messrs Broadwood. He died of

yellow fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. ...

on 9 January 1846, at St. James's, Jamaica, where he had gone on a visit to a brother. Imlah had written poetry from his boyhood, and in 1827 he published `May Flowers,' London, 12mo, which was followed in 1841 by `Poems and Songs,' London, 12mo. He also contributed to Macleod's 'National Melodies' and the '

Edinburgh Literary Journal Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

.' His best known work in modern times is the song, "O gin I were where Gadie rins".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Imlah, John 1799 births 1846 deaths 18th-century Scottish people 19th-century Scottish people 18th-century Scottish poets 19th-century Scottish poets People from Aberdeen Scottish songwriters Deaths from yellow fever