David Irving (librarian)

[1] Giving up a plan to enter the church, Irving for a time studied law, but then began to write.

In 1808 the University of Aberdeen conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D, and in the same year he was candidate for a Chair of Classics in Belfast, but withdrew before the election.

He retired, built up a private library of about 7,000 volumes, and died at Meadow Place, Edinburgh, on 11 May 1860.

[1] In 1799 Irving published a Life of Robert Fergusson, with a Critique on his Works (dedicated to Anderson).

[1] Irving continued to publish as a librarian:[1] Irving's History of Scotish Poetry, begun in 1828, appeared posthumously in 1861, published by Edmonston & Douglas, edited by John Aitken Carlyle, with a memoir by David Laing.

[1] He is buried with his wife Janet, against the east wall of Grange Cemetery in Edinburgh, near the main entrance.