Alexander Laing

Alexander Laing (1787–1857) was a Scottish verse writer, known as the Brechin poet. Life Laing was born at Brechin, Angus, 14 May 1787; his father was an agricultural labourer. Laing spent only two winters at school, and when eight years old became a herdsman. At the age 16 he was apprenticed to a flax-dresser, and followed this occupation for fourteen years, when an accident permanently disabled him. Laing afterwards earned a living as a pedlar, and died at Brechin, 14 October 1857. Works Laing wrote in Lallans, and contributed to local newspapers and to the following poetical miscellanies: