Robert Mylne (writer)

He gained notoriety by his bitter and often scurrilous political squibs against the whigs, but he also devoted much time and labour to copying manuscripts of antiquarian and historical interest.

George Crawfurd, in the preface to his History of the Shire of Renfrew, acknowledges his indebtedness to the "vast collections of public records" belonging to Mylne, "a person well known to be indefatigable in the study of Scots antiquities".

Mylne married on 29 August 1678, in the Tolbooth Church, Edinburgh, Barbara, second daughter of John Govean, minister at Muckhart, Perthshire; she died on 11 December 1725, having had twelve children, all of whom, except one daughter, Margaret, predeceased their father.

From a collection brought together by Mylne's son Robert, James Maidment published, with an introduction and a few similar compositions by other writers, A Book of Scottish Pasquils, 3 pts., Edinburgh, 1827; another edition appeared in 1868.

Mylne died in Edinburgh on 21 November 1747, aged 103, according to some accounts, and 105, according to others, and was buried on the anniversary of his birthday.