MACNEILL, Hector. Rosebank House near Roslin, Midlothian 22.10.1746 — Edinburgh 15.3.1818. British (Scottish) Poet. Son of James Macneill, a poor army captain turned farmer, and Jean Gillanders, educated at Stirling. When 14 he was sent as clerk to Caribian by a Bristol merchant and a relative to him. After a stay in Guadeloupe, Antigua and Grenada returned in 1776. In 1780-86 served as assistant secretary in navy in India, then returned. The attempt to live as free writer in Scotland was a total failure, for a while he tried his luck in Jamaica, then again in Scotland, living in Stirling, then in Edinburgh. Married, at least two sons.
Publications: “An account of the caves of Cannara, Ambola and Elephanta in the East Indies”, Archaeologia 8, 1787, 251-289 (Cannara = Kanheri).
– Unrelated publications: poetry, novels, political pamphlets.
Sources: T.B[ayne], D.N.B. 35, 1893, 248f.; Wikipedia.
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