Mary Mackellar

Her early days were spent with grandparents at Corrybeg on the north shore of Loch Eil; her father died at a young age, and Mary briefly took over his business.

[1] She married early John Mackellar, captain and joint-owner of a coasting vessel, the "Glencoe", with whom she sailed for several years, visiting many places in Europe, and being often shipwrecked.

According to the Dictionary of National Biography, the Gaelic poems show force and some fancy, but the English pieces, through which there is an undertone of sadness, are of no merit.

[2] Norquay states that Mackellar was a well-traveled and prolific poet, prominent in her day, but whose over-sentimental and over-literate work did not have lasting impact.

[5] Macbain praises the force, accuracy and clearness of her use of Gaelic, and commends her fine intellect and breadth of knowledge, and sympathy for Highland history, lore and customs.