November 13 is the anniversary of Robert Louis Stevenson's birth, which occurred in 1850. Stevenson, of course, is well known as an author. Robert declared his interest in becoming a writer fairly early in life, bucking the Stevenson family trend of building lighthouses. Robert's father Thomas employed his engineering skills in designing more than 30 of Scotland's lighthouses. Robert's cousin David designed Bass Rock lighthouse, which figured in Robert's novel Catronia. Lighthouse building became a Stevenson forte with Robert's grandfather (also Robert), who designed, among others, Bell Rock lighthouse, which Walter Scott visited with Robert Stevenson on his Northern lights tour (1814). The connection between Scott and the Stevensons clearly influenced Robert Louis' interests. One other connection in terms of novels, is that his "Kidnapped" was in part inspired by his reading of Scott's "Rob Roy".
Robert Louis Stevenson visited the Northern lights as well, on summer inspection trips with his family. Like Walter Scott, these travels were a source of writing material for Stevenson, who was a travel writer, as well as novelist. Stevenson's travels took him not only to Europe, but to America, in pursuit of a love interest (wife Fanny Osbourne), and ultimately to Samoa, where he died. Stevenson was sickly most of his life, suffering from tuberculosis, and dying at the young age of 44.
Showing posts with label Kidnapped. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kidnapped. Show all posts
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Red Fox Hunted
A murder occurred on May 14, 1752, that inspired the pens of both Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. The victim, Colin Campbell, was known as the Red Fox. The murder became famous as the Appin Murder. It took place in Appin, the region of the forfeited estates of the Stewart clan.
Campbell served as factor for the Stewart estates. In this position, he had recently evicted the Stewarts of Appin; a Jacobite clan. Clan leaders naturally came under suspicion, with James Stewart arrested, tried, and convicted. James protested his innocence, but was hanged at Ballachulish. His life ended famously with his recitation of Psalm 35 from the Bible, dubbed "The Psalm of James of the Glens" in his memory.
The Appin murder appears in Stevenson's "Kidnapped". Stevenson is said to have received this inspiration from reading Walter Scott's description of the incident in his introduction to "Rob Roy":
"A remarkable Highland story must be here briefly alluded to. Mr. Campbell of Glenure, who had been named factor for Government on the forfeited estates of Stewart of Ardshiel, was shot dead by an assassin as he passed through the wood of Lettermore, after crossing the ferry of Ballachulish. A gentleman, named James Stewart, a natural brother of Ardshiel, the forfeited person, was tried as being accessory to the murder, and condemned and executed uponvery doubtful evidence; the heaviest part of which only amounted to the accused person having assisted a nephew of his own, called Allan Breck Stewart, with money to escape after the deed was done. Not satisfied with this vengeance, which was obtained in a manner little to the honour of the dispensation of justice at the time, the friends of the deceased Glenure were equally desirous to obtain possession of the person of Allan Breck Stewart, supposed to be the actual homicide. James Mhor Drummond was secretly applied to to trepan Stewart to the sea-coast, and bring him over to Britain, to almost certain death. Drummond MacGregor had kindred connections with the slain Glenure; and, besides, the MacGregors and Campbells had been friends of late, while the former clan and the Stewarts had, as we have seen, been recently at feud; lastly, Robert Oig was now in custody at Edinburgh, and James was desirous to do some service by which his brother might be saved. The joint force of these motives may, in James's estimation of right and wrong, have been some vindication for engaging in such an enterprise, although, as must be necessarily supposed, it could only be executed by treachery of a gross description. MacGregor stipulated for a license to return to England, promising to bring Allan Breck thither along with him. But the intended victim was put upon his guard by two countrymen, who suspected James's intentions towards him. He escaped from his kidnapper, after, as MacGregor alleged, robbing his portmanteau of some clothes and four snuff-boxes. Such a charge, it may be observed, could scarce have been made unless the parties had been living on a footing of intimacy, and had access to each other's baggage..."
Campbell served as factor for the Stewart estates. In this position, he had recently evicted the Stewarts of Appin; a Jacobite clan. Clan leaders naturally came under suspicion, with James Stewart arrested, tried, and convicted. James protested his innocence, but was hanged at Ballachulish. His life ended famously with his recitation of Psalm 35 from the Bible, dubbed "The Psalm of James of the Glens" in his memory.
The Appin murder appears in Stevenson's "Kidnapped". Stevenson is said to have received this inspiration from reading Walter Scott's description of the incident in his introduction to "Rob Roy":
"A remarkable Highland story must be here briefly alluded to. Mr. Campbell of Glenure, who had been named factor for Government on the forfeited estates of Stewart of Ardshiel, was shot dead by an assassin as he passed through the wood of Lettermore, after crossing the ferry of Ballachulish. A gentleman, named James Stewart, a natural brother of Ardshiel, the forfeited person, was tried as being accessory to the murder, and condemned and executed uponvery doubtful evidence; the heaviest part of which only amounted to the accused person having assisted a nephew of his own, called Allan Breck Stewart, with money to escape after the deed was done. Not satisfied with this vengeance, which was obtained in a manner little to the honour of the dispensation of justice at the time, the friends of the deceased Glenure were equally desirous to obtain possession of the person of Allan Breck Stewart, supposed to be the actual homicide. James Mhor Drummond was secretly applied to to trepan Stewart to the sea-coast, and bring him over to Britain, to almost certain death. Drummond MacGregor had kindred connections with the slain Glenure; and, besides, the MacGregors and Campbells had been friends of late, while the former clan and the Stewarts had, as we have seen, been recently at feud; lastly, Robert Oig was now in custody at Edinburgh, and James was desirous to do some service by which his brother might be saved. The joint force of these motives may, in James's estimation of right and wrong, have been some vindication for engaging in such an enterprise, although, as must be necessarily supposed, it could only be executed by treachery of a gross description. MacGregor stipulated for a license to return to England, promising to bring Allan Breck thither along with him. But the intended victim was put upon his guard by two countrymen, who suspected James's intentions towards him. He escaped from his kidnapper, after, as MacGregor alleged, robbing his portmanteau of some clothes and four snuff-boxes. Such a charge, it may be observed, could scarce have been made unless the parties had been living on a footing of intimacy, and had access to each other's baggage..."
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