Dictionary.net

A Scottish historian and biographer, son of Alexander F.; born in Edinburgh, Aug. 30, 1791; died at Great Malvern, England, Dec. 24, 1849. His principal works were: Lives of James Crichton of Cluny, commonly called "The Admirable Crichton" (1819), Sir Thomas Craig of Riccarton (1823), and John Wicklyff (1826); "Scottish Worthies" (1832-33); "Sir Walter Raleigh" (1833); "An Historical View of the Progress of Discovery on the Northern Coasts of America", etc. (1832); "History of Scotland from 1149 to the Union of the Crowns in 1613" (9 vols., 1828-43; 5th ed. 1866).