Alexander Tait (poet)

[5] A lifelong bachelor, Tait is said to have lived in a small two-storied cottage on the west side of Montgomerie Street near the entrance to the school,[6] occupying the garret of the building with only a large tame rat for company.

[8] He travelled a great deal in the South of Scotland in his early years as a pedlar, then he worked at mantua-making, selling gown-pieces to ladies and then making up the dress in the customer's home.

[7] He was a smart and active with a ready wit, given to lampooning, possessed of a store of amusing stories, was an accomplished rhymester and as such, was much in demand at weddings, bonspiels and other social occasions[1] where his recitations were said to be "unco weel put thegither.

[11] For a time he worked in Paisley as a journeyman for Daniel Mitchell in John Street and during this phase he entertained his colleagues with his rhyming skills, "the smoothest doggrel".

"[16] with some original content: "Sillar and Tait; or, Tit for Tat"; "The Author's Nativity"; "The Lady Ballochmyle's Chariot";[11] "Colsfield's Hawks and Greyhounds";[17] "Illumination of Tarbolton on the Recovery of his Majesty";[18] "Battle of the Largs";[19] and "The Burial of Lord Abercorn".

[7] In 1777 he was a prominent figure in the setting up of the Secession or Burgher Church despite objections from the heritors and the parish minister and Tait was central to the supply of dressed stone after shortages had threatened the project.

Tait is said to have once been on good terms with Robert Burns as in his Poem and Songs he published, as stated, a version of "The Kirk's Alarm" with two additional stanzas.

[15] Now he is fifteen years and mair, There's not his match in any where, Na, not in Clydesdale nor Ayrshire, He beats our Lairds; His grandfather's gi'en him plenty lear, To play his cards.

[7] He likewise did the mailing stock, And built you barns, the doors did lock, His ain gun ye did at him cock, And never spar'd, Wi't owre his head came a clean knock, Maist kill'd the Laird.

The horse, corn, pets, kail, kye and lures, Cheese, pease, beans, rye, wood, house, and flours, Pots, pans, crans, tongs, brace-spits, and skeurs, The milk and barm, Each thing they had was a' M'Lure's, He stock'd the farm.

[25] Not satisfied with this diatribe Tait dedicated a poem entitled "A Compliment" to James Grieve, the unofficial provost of Tarbolton: Sir, for M'Lure he fought so fair 'Gainst Burns and Lawyers in Air, He trimm'd their jacket to a hair So wantonlie, No toil nor travel he did spare To win the plea.

[27] Jean Armour's second confinement gave Tait another opportunity to deepen his feud with Burns: The wives they up their coats did kilt, And through the streets so clean did stilt, Some at the door fell wi' a pelt Maist broke their leg, To see the hen, poor wanton jilt!

[29] In this respect Tait has much in common with John Lapraik and David Sillar who also published their poems and songs with a similar descent into obscurity and financial emabarassment.