William Dunbar

William Dunbar (1852 (or 1853) – 1874) was a Gateshead songwriting collier who died at the age of 21. Life William Dunbar was born in 1852 (or 1853) at Wardley Colliery, near Gateshead. He started work as an apprentice to a Mr Romanis, a Gateshead painter and glazier, but had a restless nature and in a very short time changed trade to work as a cartwright or wainwright, working in Felling and then, for the rest of his short life, as a coal miner working in the coal pits. Even here he was restless and took to various forms of art to break the monotony. He was already writing songs, many very humorous and topical, and added singing to his repertoire. He took to appearing in various local concerts, and although not a very good singer, his performance and his materials were always appreciated by the audience. He was also a talented artist, and using water colours and pencil, produced some more than acceptable works of art, but none appear to have survived.