Edinburgh has been home to many renowned individuals who achieved success in various fields, bringing fame to their birthplace and, to some extent, becoming symbols of the city itself. James Boswell is among Edinburgh’s most famous natives. A multifaceted talent allowed him to find success in several spheres: biographer, lawyer, and diarist—James was all of these. Learn more at edinburghski.
Early Years
James was born in Edinburgh on October 29, 1740. At the age of five, he began his studies at James Mundell’s academy, a truly high-class institution for its time. There, young James studied writing, Latin, English, and arithmetic.
However, his years at the academy were not a pleasant experience, largely due to his intense shyness. As a result, the boy was withdrawn from the school and began learning with private tutors. One teacher who left a significant mark on young Boswell’s soul was John Dunn. It was he who instilled in the boy an interest in contemporary literature and religion.
Education
When James turned 13, he was enrolled in the arts course at the University of Edinburgh, where he studied from 1753 to 1758. At 19, Boswell became a student at the University of Glasgow. Within the walls of this institution, he was even lucky enough to attend lectures by Adam Smith himself.
But it was during this period that James decided he wanted to become a Catholic monk. Upon learning this news, his father ordered his son to return home from Glasgow immediately. However, the young man had no intention of obeying. He spent the next three months living as a true libertine. Only after this did his father finally bring his son back to Scotland.
He then resumed his studies at the University of Edinburgh. But, forced by his father, he gave up a substantial portion of his inheritance in exchange for an annual allowance.
Studying Law
On July 30, 1762, a new phase began in James’s life. It was then that he passed his law exam. Afterward, his father not only increased his allowance but also permitted his son to travel to London. Upon his arrival, Boswell started keeping a journal dedicated to this period of his life. In 1950, the notebook was published under the title “London Journal”.
In August of that same year, James set off for Europe. He took this step to study law at Utrecht University. As it turned out, Boswell not only studied there but also socialized with a wide range of people.
Travels
In June 1764, James left Utrecht and dedicated the next two years to travel. He managed to visit Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France, and Corsica. During this tour, Boswell met with famous personalities, notably Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire.
The Return
In 1766, James returned to Scotland after spending a few weeks in London. He passed his final law exam at the University of Edinburgh, which qualified him to become a lawyer. For the next 10 years, Boswell practiced law in his native Edinburgh. But he preferred to spend his annual vacation in London in the company of its writers and editors, as this nurtured his literary ambitions.
It must be said, this desire was destined to be fulfilled—he began to place his material in the journals and newspapers of Edinburgh and London.
A Major Milestone
The year 1768 was marked for James’s creative path by the publication of “An account of Corsica, journal of a tour to that island, and memoirs of Pascal Paoli.” In this book, readers could get a closer look at the history and description of Corsica and, of course, learn more about Boswell’s travels.
It is important to note that James was very fond of the idea of a Corsican Republic. When France invaded the island in 1768, he made every effort to draw public attention to the issue and to supply the Corsican fighters with weapons and money.
Personal Flaws
Speaking of Boswell’s legal practice, it should be noted that it was not very successful. It’s fair to say that his literary career was more distinguished.
But by the late 1770s, James had begun to indulge heavily in alcoholism and gambling. All this was mixed with the man’s considerable fascination with women. The fact that he had a lawful wife, Margaret Montgomerie, did not bother him in the slightest.
In addition, Boswell often had sharp mood swings. This tendency, however, had been observed in him since childhood. It was simply that his less-than-healthy lifestyle significantly amplified the problem.
The Masterpiece
In 1784, James decided to move to London for good. There, he resolved to advance his legal career at the English bar. But this attempt was not successful.
After this, Boswell even wanted to run for Parliament, but that plan also fell through. After all his failures in the legal field, the man dedicated all his time to writing The Life of Samuel Johnson. This book would later bring James his greatest literary fame. In this work, he described the biography of the famous writer Samuel Johnson.
It must be said that the book immediately became a great interest to critics and readers upon its publication. It is even called a seminal work that played a significant role in the development of the biography genre. And later, this work came to be considered the greatest biography ever written in the English language.
Unfortunately, Boswell’s turbulent life was the cause of his early death at the age of 55. This happened in 1795. Venereal diseases and many years of heavy drinking led to the end of James’s earthly journey.
However, the sad reality is that very often many talented people end their lives tragically. They fail to take care of themselves, trading their health for fleeting pleasures, which are often represented by alcohol, drugs, and a dissolute lifestyle. And this sorrowful trait can be traced through the biographies of numerous famous figures.
Perhaps this is connected to another unwritten “life axiom,” which says that truly gifted people do not live long. Their excessively bright talent seems to make them rush through life, seeking maximum pleasure here and now. After all, to create something beautiful, they require positive emotions and energy. And this can only be obtained through relaxation, rest, and satisfying one’s own needs. Unfortunately, in this area, many people lose all sense of boundaries and begin to overindulge.
Whether this is true or not is not for us to judge. But, as life experience shows, in most cases, this “rule” holds very true. And Boswell’s story was no exception.
One can have different attitudes toward the way this figure chose to live. But one thing remains indisputable—his literary achievements have become immortal. And that, perhaps, is the most valuable thing for any person whose life was connected with creativity.