Robert Anderson (7 January 1750 – 20 February 1830) was a
Scottish author and critic.[1][2]
Son of David Anderson, W.S., he was born at
Carnwath,
Lanarkshire. He studied first
divinity and then medicine at the
University of Edinburgh, and subsequently, after some experience as a surgeon, took his M.D. at the
University of St Andrews in 1778. He began to practise as a physician at
Alnwick in Northumberland, but he became financially independent by his marriage with the daughter of John Gray, and abandoned his profession for a literary life in
Edinburgh.[2]
For several years his attention was occupied with his edition of The Works of the British Poets, with Prefaces Biographical and Critical (14 vols. 8vo, Edin., 1792–1807).[3] His other publications were:[2]
The Miscellaneous Works of
Tobias Smollett, M.D., with Memoirs of his Life and Writings (Edin., 1796)
Life of
Samuel Johnson, LL.D., with Critical Observations on his Works (Edin., 1815)
The Works of John Moore, M.D., with Memoirs of his Life and Writings (Edin., 7 vols., 1820)
The Grave and other Poems, by
Robert Blair; to which are prefixed some Account of his Life and Observations on his Writings (Edin., 1826).