John Pinkerton

For the computer designer, seeJohn Pinkerton (computer designer).For the politician, seeJohn Pinkerton (politician).

Cameo of John Pinkerton

1809Cape Colonymap by John Pinkerton

John Pinkerton(17 February 1758 – 10 March 1826) was a Scottishantiquarian,cartographer,author,numismatist,historian, and early advocate ofGermanicracial supremacytheory.

He was born inEdinburgh,as one of three sons to James Pinkerton and Mary (nee Heron or Bowie) Pinkerton. He lived in the neighbourhood of that city for some of his earliest childhood years, but later moved toLanark.His studious youth brought him extensive knowledge of theClassics,and it is known that in his childhood years he enjoyed translatingRomanauthors such asLivy.He moved on toEdinburgh University,and after graduating, remained in the city to take up an apprenticeship in Law. However, his scholarly inclinations led him to abandon the legal profession after he began writingElegy on Craigmillar Castle,first published in 1776.

London and publications

In 1781, Pinkerton moved to London, where his full career as a writer began in earnest, publishing in the same year a volume ofRimesof no great merit, andScottish Tragic Ballads.These were followed in 1782 byTwo Dithyrambic Odes on Enthusiasm and Laughter,and by a series ofTales in Verse.Under the title ofSelect Scottish Balladshe reprinted in 1783 his tragic ballads, with a supplement comprisingBallads of the Comic Kind.Joseph Ritsonpointed out in 1784 that the so-called ancient ballads were some of them of modern date, and Pinkerton admitted that he was the author of the second part ofHardy Kanuteand part-author of some others. He published anEssay on Medalsin 1784, and in 1785, under the pseudonym of "Robert Heron", his bold but eccentricLetters of Literaturedepreciating the classical authors of Greece and Rome. In 1786 he editedAncient Scottish Poemsfrom the manuscript collections of SirRichard Maitlandof Lethington. It was succeeded in 1787 by a compilation, under the new pseudonym of "H. Bennet" entitled TheTreasury of Wit,and by his first important historical work, theDissertation on the Origin and Progress of the Scythians or Goths,to whichGibbonacknowledged himself indebted.

His edition ofBarbour'sBruceand aMedallic History of England to the Revolutionappeared in 1790; a collection of Scottish poems reprinted from scarce editions in 1792; and a series of biographical sketches, theIconographia scotica,in the years 1795 to 1797. In 1797 he published aHistory of Scotland from the Accession of the House of Stuart to that of Mary(which includes an edition ofThe Dethe of the Kynge of Scotis). A new biographical collection, theGallery of Eminent Persons of Scotland(1799), was succeeded after a short interval by aModern Geography digested on a New Plan(1802; enlarged 1807).

Celtic/Gothic furore

Pinkerton next collected and printed in 1789 certainVitae sanctorum scotiae,and, a little later, published hisEnquiry into the History of Scotland preceding the Reign of Malcolm III.His assertion that theCeltswere incapable of assimilating the highest forms of civilisation excited "violent disgust", but the Enquiry was twice reprinted, in 1794 and 1814, and is still of value for the documents embodied in it.

Pinkerton very much wished to purge his country's history of allCelticelements. In this aim, through two works, theDissertation on the Origins and Progress of the Scythians or Goths(1787) and theEnquiry into the History of Scotland preceding the reign of Malcolm III(1789), he developed the theory that thePictswere in fact of theraceof ancientGoths,that theScots languagewas a pure descendant of the Picto-Gothic language; and, moreover, that theGaels,orHighlanders,were a degenerate impostor race.

In essence the Pinkerton theory stated that:

"[T]he Gothic and Celtic races were originally and generically different: that this difference has ever been clear and distinct, in their physiognomic, physiological, and moral character" and that it is "as distinct, and as distinguishable" to this day.

The two characteristics were as follows:

"The Gothic tribes, it is said, were and still are red, or yellow-haired, blue-eyed, fair complexioned, large of limb, and tall of stature."

"The Celtic, on the other hand, dark-haired, dark-eyed, of swarthy complexion, and small in stature."

As well as believing that Goths were different to Celts, Pinkerton also believed that Goths were superior, stating "[w]hat a lion is to an ass, such is a Goth to a Celt."

His theory essentially stated that the people of England were of a superior stock to those of Scotland, Ireland and Wales. He described the Celtic inhabitants of Britain as "a black-haired race," and stated that those with "fair faces, and red or light hair" possessed the "grand features of the Goths" and were of "Gothic extract."

In an effort to advance his theories, Pinkerton turned to comparingCelticand Germanicphilology.He wanted to show that Scotland's Celticplacenameswere not Celtic at all—many of these attempts being discredited by modern scholars. Pinkerton thought, for instance, thatAber(as inAberdeen) came from the Germanüberrather than from the Celtic for confluence of a river, and likewise, that theGaelicwordInver(equivalent of Aber) was a borrowing fromDanish.

To this end he set his energy to collecting and creating older Anglo-Scottish literature. This was all the more important as far as his agenda was concerned because of the "Celtomania" produced by theOssianpoems ofJames Macpherson.Many such works had been invented by Pinkerton. His "ancient" Anglo-Scottish tale ofHardyknutehad in fact only been composed in 1719 byLady Wardlawof Pitreavie. Pinkerton subsequently invented a sequel to this epic, but after he was exposed byJoseph Ritson,he admitted to the forgery.

Pinkerton's correspondence with fellow academics is characterised by verbal abuse.Hugh Trevor-Roper,one modern historian inclined to sympathise with at least the spirit of his views, called him "eccentric." Other historians have hinted at mildinsanity.Despite this, Pinkerton is still an important figure in the history of Britishantiquarianism.

Cartography

Pinkerton was a celebrated master of the Edinburgh school of cartography which lasted from roughly 1800 to 1830. Pinkerton, along with John Thomson & Co. andJohn Cary,redefined cartography by exchanging the elaborate cartouches and fantastical beasts used in the 18th century for more accurate detail. Pinkerton's main work was the"Pinkerton's Modern Atlas"published from 1808 through 1815 with an American version by Dobson & Co. in 1818. Pinkerton maps are today greatly valued for their quality, size, colouration, and detail.

Later life

Some of Pinkerton's collection of books and maps was sold at auction in London, by Leigh & Sotheby, on 7 January 1813 (and 6 following days); a copy of the catalogue is held at Cambridge University Library (shelfmark Munby.c.159(1)). About 1818 he left London for Paris, where he made his headquarters until his death on 10 March 1826. He spent his later years impoverished.His remaining publications were theRecollections of Paris in the years 1802–5(1806); a very usefulGeneral Collection of Voyages and Travels(1808–1814); aNew Modern Atlas(1808–1819); and hisPetralogy(1811).

References

Attribution

This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Pinkerton, John".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 627.

Reading

• Ferguson, William,The Identity of the Scottish Nation: An Historic Quest,(Edinburgh, 1998), pp. 250–273.
• Patrick O'Flaherty:Scotland's pariah: the life and work of John Pinkerton, 1758 - 1826,Toronto [u.a.]: Univ. of Toronto Press, 2015,ISBN978-1-4426-4928-6
• Couper, Sarah. "Pinkerton, John (1758–1826)".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/22301.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)

External links

• Works by John PinkertonatProject Gutenberg
• Short biography