He gained notoriety as an extremely bad poet who exhibited no recognition of, or concern for, his peers' opinions of his work.

Groups throughout Scotland engaged him to make recitations from his work, and contemporary descriptions of these performances indicate that many listeners were appreciating McGonagall's skill as a comic music hall character.

argue that his inappropriate rhythms, weak vocabulary, and ill-advised imagery combine to make his work amongst the most unintentionally amusing dramatic poetry in the English language.

His work is in a long tradition of narrative ballads and verse written and published about great events and tragedies, and widely circulated among the local population as handbills.

[6] Biographer Norman Watson suggests that McGonagall may have falsified his place of birth, as a native-born Scotsman would be better treated under the Poor Law of 1845 than one born in Ireland.

Here, William was apprenticed to follow his father's trade as a handloom weaver, putting an end to whatever formal education he may have had.

Having learned his trade, McGonagall proceeded to educate himself, taking "great delight in reading books", particularly cheap editions of Shakespeare's plays.

Despite the Industrial Revolution slowly making weavers obsolete, McGonagall appeared to prosper, as there was still need for skilled workers to perform tasks of great complexity.

A flame, as Lord Byron has said, seemed to kindle up my entire frame, along with a strong desire to write poetry; and I felt so happy, so happy, that I was inclined to dance, then I began to pace backwards and forwards in the room, trying to shake off all thought of writing poetry; but the more I tried, the more strong the sensation became.

Gilfillan, himself an untrained and poorly reviewed polemic Presbyterian preacher who occasionally dabbled in poetry, commented admiringly "Shakespeare never wrote anything like this."

"[10]: viii The letter gave McGonagall confidence in his "poetic abilities", and he felt his reputation could be enhanced further if he were to give a live performance before the Queen.

In July 1878, he walked from Dundee to Balmoral, a distance of about 60 miles (97 km) over mountainous terrain and through a violent thunderstorm to perform for Queen Victoria.

[10]: vii Throughout his life McGonagall campaigned against excessive drinking, appearing in pubs and bars to give edifying poems and speeches, which proved popular.

McGonagall constantly struggled financially and earned money by selling his poems in the streets, or reciting them in halls, theatres and public houses.

He read his poems while the crowd was permitted to pelt him with eggs, flour, herrings, potatoes and stale bread.

[10]: x  Though trying his hand at writing prose and endorsements for local businesses for a short time,[10]: x  in 1894, he and his wife were forced to move to Perth.

Additionally, a plaque above 5 South College Street in Edinburgh shows an image of McGonagall, and bears the inscription: William McGonagall Poet and Tragedian Died Here 29 September 1902 "The Tay Bridge Disaster" has been widely reproduced,[19] and recounts the events of the evening of 28 December 1879, when, during a severe gale, the Tay Rail Bridge near Dundee collapsed as a train was passing over it.

From c.1950 to 1995 a memorial bench stood on the path immediately to the north side of the church commemorating McGonagall and bearing the typically McGonagall-esque inscription "Feeling tired and need a seat?

[citation needed] McGonagall's poems were published by his friends, in a series of books bearing variations on the title Poetic Gems.