B I 0 GR AP €1 I C AL S ICE T C HE S. 235
of the Earl and his lady, than he burst out into an immoderate fit of laughter.
The artist, apprised of the visit, was in readiness, and the next portraiture that
appeared was the jolly Laird of Sonachan in the attitude described.
DONALDC AMPBELLE,s q., of Sonachan, in the county of Argyle, was born id
the year 1735 j and in the early part of his life served as a lieutenant in the
first West Fencible Regiment. He afterwards became an active and judicious
agriculturist, and dedicated his whole attention to country affairs. His paternal
estate not being large, he was, soon after quitting the army, appointed Chamberlain
of Argyle, by the late John Duke of Argyle, and subsequently Collector of
Supply for that county-both which situations he held for a period of nearly
twenty years.
He married, in the year 1777, Mary, only daughter of Robert Maclachlan,
Esq., of Maclachlan, by whom he left four sons and two daughters. His
brothers were John, a Captain‘of Cavalry in the East India Company’s service,
killed in India; and Archibald, a subaltern in the British army, killed in
America.
Mr. Campbell died in March 1808, in the seventy-third year of his age.
His eldest son, who succeeded to the property, was for many years a Writer to
the Signet in Edinburgh,
CCL.
AIR. THOMAS SOMMERS,
HIS MAJESTY’S GLAZIER FOR SCOTLAND.
THOMAS SO3f.MERS-the friend and biographer of Fergusson the poet-was
originally from Lanarkshire. He came to Edinburgh early in life ; so early indeed,
that he may be said to have been brought up in the city almost from
infancy. He first became acquainted with Fergusson in 1756, who, then in the
sixth year of his age, was a pupil of Mr. Philp, an English teacher in Niddry’s
Wynd, and who was on terms of intimacy with Mr. Sommers.
After finishing his apprenticeship as a glazier, Sommers proceeded to London.
He was then about twenty years of age ; and shortly after his arrival, as he used
frequently to relate, he had the satisfaction of witnessing the coronation of
George 111. and his consort. In the capital he found good employment for
several years ; and he was enabled, on his return to Edinburgh, to commence
business for himself, by opening a paint and glazier’s shop in the Parliament
Square.
Possessed of an education much superior to most of his contemporaries in
the same station of life, Mr. Sommers soon acquired influence in the manage