John Galt

The Radical: an Autobiography (Dodo Press) John Galt

John Galt (1779-1839) was a Scottish novelist. Born in Irvine, Ayrshire, Galt was the son of a naval captain. When his family relocated to Malden in 1789, he became an apprentice and junior clerk, writing essays and stories for local journals in his spare time. He moved to London in 1804 to seek his fortune. While subsequently travelling in Europe, he met and befriended Lord Byron. On his return to London, he wrote an account of his travels, which met with moderate success. Decades later, he published the first full biography of Lord Byron and published his two-volume Autobiography in 1833. He also wrote a number of school texts under the pseudonym Reverend T. Clark. Amongst his other works are The Life, Studies, and Works of Benjamin West, Esq. (1820), The Ayrshire Legatees (1821), Annals of the Parish; or, The Chronicle of Dalmailing During the Ministry of the Rev. Micah Balwhidder (1821) and The Provost (1823).