BURTON, John Hill, Scottish historian: b. Aberdeen, 22 Aug. 1809; d. 10 Aug. 1881. He was educated at the grammar school and Marischal College in that city. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1831. He never succeeded in gaining much practice and soon turned his attention to literature, contributing to the Westminster, the Edinburgh and North British Reviews,- acted for a short period as editor of the Scotsman, and committed that journal to a free-trade policy. With Sir John Bowring he edited Bentham's works, as well as an illustrative 'Benthamiana,' with the aim of making more widely known the opinions of the great apostle of utilitarianism and radical ism. His first original work of importance was the (Life and Correspondence of David Hume' (1846), followed next year by the (Lives> of Lord Lovat and Duncan Forbes of Culloden. In 1849 he published his 'Political and Social Economy' ; in 1852 he compiled (Narratives from Criminal Trials in Scotland.> He com menced in 1853 the publication of his chief work, the 'History of Scotland,' with two vol umes covering the period from the revolution of 1688 to the extinction of the last Jacobite rebellion in 1746. This was afterward com
pleted by seven volumes commencing with Ag ncola's invasion and ending with the revolution of 1688. A second edition of the complete his tory was published in eight volumes in 1873. A series of literary and historical sketches con tributed to Blackwood's Magazine formed the basis of two of his best-known books, 'The Scot Abroad' and 'The Book Hunter) His last important historical work was the 'History of the Reign of Queen Anne' (1880). In 1854 Mr. Burton was appointed secretary to the Scottish Prison Board, and he continued his connection with this department as a commis sioner of prisons until his death. The success of his 'History of Scotland' brought him the appointment of historiographer royal for Scot land. Consult article in Blackwood's Magazine for September 1881, and the memoir by his widow prefixed to 'The Book Hunter.' .