Scottish writer whose vernacular poetry is among the earliest in the 18th-century Scottish literary revival.

After serving in the British Army, he retired to the life of a country gentleman. He became closely acquainted with the poet Allan Ramsay (Ramsay, Allan), with whom he exchanged “Familiar Epistles” (1719) in verse, after which Burns's similar poetic letters were modelled. His modernized version of Wallace (1722) by Blind Harry also influenced Burns.