Thomas Davidson (printer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Davidson was licensed to be the King's Printer in Scotland
during the reign of James V
. He was born in Birse
, Aberdeenshire, a son of Thomas Davidson of Auchenlayes, close to the beginning of the 16th century. His family held lands near to Huntly and on the monastic estates of Monymusk
. Davidson did not remain in Aberdeenshire and is on record as being a Burgess of Edinburgh in 1528, the year the king finally came to power after a fifteen-year minority. Davidson's Edinburgh
press probably began operations around this time.
His productions over the next decade-or-so included the first edition of Bellenden's The hystory and croniklis of Scotland
, 1536, as well as a commission from the king to publish The New Actis and Constitutionis of Parliament, the first ever printed edition of Scottish legislation. After many years in preparation this latter title appeared in 1542 and two of the three surviving copies are printed on vellum
. Other works Davidson is thought to have printed include a conjectured c.1540 edition (now lost) of the long poem The Palice of Honour by the makar
and churchman Gavin Douglas
. In Davidson's childhood, Douglas had held ecclesiastical charge of Monymusk.
Kingdom of Scotland
The Kingdom of Scotland was a Sovereign state in North-West Europe that existed from 843 until 1707. It occupied the northern third of the island of Great Britain and shared a land border to the south with the Kingdom of England...
during the reign of James V
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
. He was born in Birse
Birse
Birse is a parish in the Lower Deeside area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, which includes the communities of Finzean and Ballogie. However the name Birse is often used to refer only to the northwestern part of the parish which lies on the south side of the River Dee, Aberdeenshire, opposite the...
, Aberdeenshire, a son of Thomas Davidson of Auchenlayes, close to the beginning of the 16th century. His family held lands near to Huntly and on the monastic estates of Monymusk
Monymusk
Monymusk is a planned village in the Marr area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland which was almost entirely rebuilt in 1840, although its history dates back to 1170.It is a site for fishing on the nearby River Don.-External links:* *...
. Davidson did not remain in Aberdeenshire and is on record as being a Burgess of Edinburgh in 1528, the year the king finally came to power after a fifteen-year minority. Davidson's Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
press probably began operations around this time.
His productions over the next decade-or-so included the first edition of Bellenden's The hystory and croniklis of Scotland
John Bellenden
John Bellenden or Ballantyne of Moray was a Scottish writer of the 16th century.He was born towards the close of the 15th century, and educated at St. Andrews and Paris. At the request of James V he translated Hector Boece's Historia Gentis Scotorum...
, 1536, as well as a commission from the king to publish The New Actis and Constitutionis of Parliament, the first ever printed edition of Scottish legislation. After many years in preparation this latter title appeared in 1542 and two of the three surviving copies are printed on vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
. Other works Davidson is thought to have printed include a conjectured c.1540 edition (now lost) of the long poem The Palice of Honour by the makar
Makar
A makar is a term from Scottish literature for a poet or bard, often thought of as royal court poet, although the term can be more generally applied. The word functions in a manner similar to the Greek term which means both maker and poet...
and churchman Gavin Douglas
Gavin Douglas
Gavin Douglas was a Scottish bishop, makar and translator. Although he had an important political career, it is for his poetry that he is now chiefly remembered. His principal pioneering achievement was the Eneados, a full and faithful vernacular translation of the Aeneid of Virgil and the first...
. In Davidson's childhood, Douglas had held ecclesiastical charge of Monymusk.
Sources
- Printing in Scotland, by Duncan GlenDuncan GlenProfessor Duncan Munro Glen was a Scottish poet, literary editor and Emeritus Professor of Visual Communication at Nottingham Trent University. He became known to the literary world through his first full-length book, "Hugh MacDiarmid and the Scottish Renaissance"...
- Imprentit: 550 Years of the Scottish Printed Word, National Library of ScotlandNational Library of ScotlandThe National Library of Scotland is the legal deposit library of Scotland and is one of the country's National Collections. It is based in a collection of buildings in Edinburgh city centre. The headquarters is on George IV Bridge, between the Old Town and the university quarter...
- Auchenhamperis and Monymusk references for Clan DavidsonClan DavidsonClan Davidson is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan was also part of the Chattan Confederation.-History:When the power of the Comyns began to wane in Badenoch, David Dubh of Invernahaven, Chief of Davidsons, having married the daughter of Angus, 6th of MacKintosh, sought the protection of William,...