Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe (1781?–1851) was a Scottish antiquary and artist. Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe Fraser

Life

He was the second son of Charles Sharpe (originally Charles Kirkpatrick) of Hoddam,

Dumfriesshire Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries or Shire of Dumfries (''Siorrachd Dhùn Phris'' in Gaelic) is a historic county and registration county in southern Scotland. The Dumfries lieutenancy area covers a similar area to the historic county. I ...

, by Eleonora, youngest daughter of John Renton of Lamerton, born on 15 May 1781. He went to Edinburgh for schooling in 1796, and in October of that year joined John Robison's class at

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 ...

. He returned home in May 1798. With a view to taking orders in the

Scottish Episcopal Church The Scottish Episcopal Church ( gd, Eaglais Easbaigeach na h-Alba; sco, Scots Episcopal(ian) Kirk) is the ecclesiastical province of the Anglican Communion in Scotland. A continuation of the Church of Scotland as intended by King James VI, and ...

, Sharpe matriculated in 1798 at

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church ( la, Ædes Christi, the temple or house, '' ædēs'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is uniqu ...

, where he graduated B.A. 17 June 1802, and M.A. 28 June 1806. Not fitting in at his college in terms of social activity, he devoted himself mainly to antiquarian research and drawing. Instead of entering the church, Sharpe took up residence in Edinburgh in 1827, first living at 93

Princes Street Princes Street ( gd, Sràid nam Prionnsan) is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three ...

a fine house facing directly onto

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age, although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. ...

.Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1827 He later moved to 28 Drummond Place in Edinburgh's Second New Town.Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1850 Whilst being a welcome guest in society, he was in fact a literary recluse, who made no effort to keep up with fashion in his dress. Sharpe died unmarried, 17 March 1851.

Works

Sharpe contributed ballads to the second volume of

Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'', ''Rob Roy (n ...

's '' Border Minstrelsy''. In 1807 he also published at Oxford ''Metrical Legends and other Poems''. In 1823 he published his ''Ballad Book'', which in 1880 was re-edited by David Laing, with additions from Sharpe's manuscripts. To Laing's edition of William Stenhouse's notes to

James Johnson James Johnson may refer to: Artists, actors, authors, and musicians *James Austin Johnson (born 1989), American comedian & actor, ''Saturday Night Live'' cast member *James B. Johnson (born 1944), author of science nonfiction novels *James P. John ...

's ''

Scots Musical Museum The ''Scots Musical Museum'' was an influential collection of traditional folk music of Scotland published from 1787 to 1803. While it was not the first collection of Scottish folk songs and music, the six volumes with 100 songs in each collected ...

'' (1853), he made some contributions. In 1817 Sharpe edited

James Kirkton James Kirkton (1628–1699) was a Church of Scotland minister and author. He is best known as author of ''The Secret and True History of the Church of Scotland'', which despite being over 300 years old, remains in print. Life He was born in ...

's ''Secret and True History of the Church of Scotland from the Restoration to the Year 1678, with an Account of the Murder of Archbishop Sharpe, by James Russell, an Actor therein'', with notes. It was followed in 1820 by an edition of

Robert Law Lieutenant-General Robert A. Law ( c. 1788 – May 16, 1874) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator for the colony of Newfoundland. Law was commissioned into the 71st Foot in 1809. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1811 and Captai ...

's ''Memorialls; or the considerable Things that fell out within the Island of Great Britain from 1638 to 1684'', containing information on

witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have us ...

and related topics. In 1827 he edited ''A Part of the Life of Lady Margaret Cunninghame, daughter of the Earl of Glencairn, that she had with her first Husband, the Earl of Evandale''; in 1828 (for the Bannatyne Club), ''The Letters of Archibald, Earl of Argyle''; and in 1837, ''Surgundo, or the Valiant Christian'', a Catholic song for the victory at the

Battle of Glenlivet The Battle of Glenlivet was a Scottish clan battle fought on 3 October 1594 near Glenlivet, Moray, Scotland. It was fought between Protestant forces loyal to King James VI of Scotland who were commanded by Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argy ...

in 1594; and the same year, ''Minuets and Songs of Thomas, sixth Earl of Kellie''. In drawing, Sharpe's strength was satirical or grotesque caricature. His frontispieces and illustrations in the

Bannatyne Club The Bannatyne Club, named in honour of George Bannatyne and his famous anthology of Scots literature the Bannatyne Manuscript, was a text publication society founded by Sir Walter Scott to print rare works of Scottish interest, whether in history, ...

and other antiquarian publications applied antiquarian knowledge. In 1833 he published a volume of etchings, under the title ''Portraits of an Amateur'', and his ''Etchings, with Photographs from Original Drawings, Poetical and Prose Fragments'', appeared after his death at Edinburgh in 1869. The ''Letters to and from C. K. Sharpe'' (1888) were edited by Alexander Allardyce, 1888.

Notes

External links

Sharpe Chapbook Collection
the John Rylands Library ;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Sharpe, Charles Kirkpatrick 1781 births 1851 deaths Scottish antiquarians Scottish book editors Scottish illustrators