FALCONER, WILLIAM (1732-1769), British poet, was born in Edinburgh, the son of a wig-maker. He went to sea, and at the age of 18 was second mate on the "Britannia" when she was wrecked off Cape Colonna. Falconer was one of the three saved. The voyage was the subject of his poem The Shipwreck 0762). On his return he published an elegy on . Frederick, Prince of Wales, and some poems in the Gentleman's Magazine. He dedi cated The Shipwreck to the Duke of York, who advised him to enter the navy. After the peace of 1763 he became purser of the "Glory" frigate. In 1764 he published a new edition of The Shipwreck and The Demagogue, an attack on Wilkes and Charles Churchill. In 1769 appeared his Universal Marine Dictionary. He was then appointed purser of the "Aurora" frigate, sailing to India. She left Spithead on Sept. 20, 1769, reached the Cape, which she left on Dec. 27, and was never heard of again. The Shipwreck had a great reputation in its day, which it has not preserved.
See Falconer's Poetical Works (Aldine Edition, 1836), with a life by J. Mitford. The Shipwreck (1887) has a life by W. H. D. Adams.