Herbert John Clifford Grierson - Life and Work

Life and Work

He was born in Lerwick, Shetland, on January 16, 1866; d. Feb. 19, 1960, Cambridge, the son of Andrew John Grierson and his wife, Alice Geraldine De (née Clifford) Grierson. In 1896 he married Mary Letitia (née Ogston) Grierson, dau. of Sir Alexander Ogston, Professor of Surgery at Aberdeen.

He was educated at King's College, University of Aberdeen and Christ Church, Oxford. On graduating from the latter he was appointed Professor of English Literature at his Aberdeen alma mater, where he taught from 1894 to 1915, and subsequently became Knight Professor of English Literature at the University of Edinburgh (1915–1935).

He is credited with promoting interest in the Metaphysical Poets, especially John Donne, a revival more commonly attributed to T. S. Eliot. His special field of research was English poetry of the 17th century, but he was also interested in Walter Scott.

He lived at 12 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh from 1913 to 1953.