Scott, Lady John (Alicia Ann Spottiswoode)

    (1810-1900)

   Alicia Anne Spottiswoode was born at Westruther, Berwickshire, and in 1836 she married Lord John Scott, brother of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch, and was known as Lady John Scott. A collector of traditional songs, she wrote 69 of her own, often basing them on older pieces. One of her most well-known adaptations is "Annie Laurie." The poem-written about 1700-was by William Douglas of Fingland, Kirkcudbrightshire, with the tune "Kempie Kaye." Lady John altered the words and melody and added a third verse. The song is now sung to her melody. Annie was one of four daughters of Sir Robert Laurie, first Baronet of Maxweltown, Dumfriesshire. Sadly, William Douglas did not get the hand of his Annie in marriage. Some of her other song/poems: "Durisdeer," "Ettrick," "Loch Lomond," "The Comin' o' the Spring."

   Sources: A Book of Scottish Verse. Maurice Lindsay and R.L. Mackie, eds. St. Martin's Press, 1983. British Minstrelsie. T.C. and E.C. Jack, Grange Publishing works, Edinburgh (?1900). Love's Witness: Five Centuries of Love Poetry by Women. Jill Hollis, ed. Carroll and Graf, Inc., 1993. Lyra Celtica: An Antholog y of Representative Celtic Poetry. E.A. Sharp and J. Matthay, ed. John Grant, 1924. The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org).