Scottish poet.

Managed family’s Edinburgh brewery. Left business and settled in London as a man of letters (1763). Corrector to Clarendon Press at Oxford (1765-71). Published various original poems and an annotated translation of Camoens’s “Os Lusiadas” with critical essays (1775). A brief stint in the navy took him to Portugal, where he collected material for his best-selling poem, “Almada Hill” (1781). The prize money from this venture allowed him to retire on his income.

Son of Rev. Alexander and Julian (Henderson) Meikle of Langholm, Dumfriesshire. Married Mary Tomkins (1781).