Poet
Naomi Mitchison
Nan Shepherd
Nan Shepherd was an early Scottish Modernist writer, who wrote three novels set in small, fictional, communities in North Scotland. The Scottish landscape and weather played a major role in her novels and were the focus of her poetry. She also wrote one non-fiction book on hill walking, "The Living Mountain" based on her experiences walking in the Cairngorms.
Shepherd was a graduate of Aberdeen University and was a lecturer of English at the Aberdeen College of Education for most of her working life.
Elizabeth Melville
Elizabeth's father was Sir James Melville of Halhill (1535–1617), a courtier and diplomat who served Mary Queen of Scots. He married Christian Boswell (who died in 1609). Elizabeth's siblings were James, Robert and Margaret. Elizabeth was born around near Colessie in Fife.
Elizabeth married John Colville, a landowner, and they had seven children: Alexander, James, Robert, John, Samuel, Christian and another un-named daughter.
Agnes Craig McElhose
Judith Mary MacGregor
Judith Mary MacGregor was born in Dollar, Clachmannanshire in 1940. She studied Law at Edinburgh University and had a short legal career.
In 1962 she married David Martin Scott Steel (born 31 March 1938) whom she met a university. He is a politician, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Lord (Baron) Steel of Aikwood and now Life Peer in the House of Lords. They have 3 children: Graeme, Catriona Judith born 1967 and Rory, as well as an adopted son William (Billy).
Mary Brooksbank
Mary Brooksbank was born in Aberdeen, one of five children of Alexander Soutar, dock labourer and union activist and Roseann Gillan, domestic servant, fish gutter and mill worker. The family moved to Dundee around 1907. She started work as a "half-timer" aged 11, working as a shifter in a jute mill. She joined the Communist Party in 1920 and led campaigns. She married Ernest Brooksbank in 1924. In 1931 a rally at which she was a speaker was charged by mounted policemen. She was arrested and charged with incitement to riot.
Jeanie Donnan
Various books of poetry published. She wrote specifically of Galloway - nature, personages, life. She had the honour of the Societe of Philogie conferred on her - only the third lady to attain such without a University degree.
Made an Honorary member of Wigtown Burns' Club - the first woman to become a member.
Janet Hamilton
Janet Hamilton was a poet and author who lived in what is now Coatbridge in the 19th century.
She was born Janet Thomson in Shotts in October 1795, in a house that was a remnant of an old farm steading, named Carshill.
Her father, James Thomson was a shoemaker and was a well read man with a keen interest in politics. Her mother’s name was Mary Brownlee.
Janet was fifth in descent from John Whitelaw, who was executed at the Old Tolbooth in Edinburgh, four years after the battle of Bothwell Bridge, in which he had taken an active role as a supporter of the Covenanting principles.
Rachel Annand Taylor
Rachel Annand was born in Aberdeen. Her father was a stone mason and an active trade unionist. She was one of the first women to study at Aberdeen University. Despite excelling academically, she did not complete her degree. She taught at the High School for Girls, in the building now occupied by Harlaw Academy. She married Alexander Cameron Taylor in 1901, but the marriage was not a happy one. She published four volumes of poetry between 1904 and 1923. She also published books on the Italian Renaissance and the poet Dunbar. She died in London in 1960.
Mary MacPherson
Mary MacDonald was born at Skeabost, Isle of Skye, in 1821, the daughter of John Macdonald and Flora MacInnes. She moved to Inverness in 1844 where she married shoemaker Isaac MacPherson on 11 November 1847.
After her husband's death, she took work as a domestic servant. Her employer accused her of stealing clothes, a charge she vehemently denied. She was jailed for 40 days. She always protested her innocence thereafter, and her sense of injustice led to her composing songs and poetry.