Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott was born in the old city of Edinburgh in 1771. As a child, he suffered from polio which left him permanently lame. Although the usual age of entry was 13, he attended the University of Edinburgh at 12, and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates at 21. While at University, he also met the poet Robert Burns. By 25, he had turned to writing professionally, originally with works translated from the German, and then with poetry. He published his first novel, Waverly, in 1814 and while it was published anonymously, most reviews correctly pegged the author as Scott. Waverly was not only Scott’s first novel, but the first historical novel. He also recovered the lost Crown Jewels of Scotland in 1818. He faced financial ruin in 1826, but put his home and royalties in trust for his creditors while he wrote his way out of debt. Although Scott died in 1832, his royalties eventually paid off all his creditors.