Joseph Laing Waugh (1868–1928) was a Scottish businessman and writer.

Medallion portrait of Joseph Laing Waugh by William Birnie Rhind
The grave of Joseph Laing Waugh, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh

Life

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Waugh was born in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway on 17 April 1868. He moved to Edinburgh around 1890 where he ran a successful wallpaper business.[1] He lived at 3 Comiston Drive in the south-west of the city.[2] His great love however was writing. His work is sentimental in nature and largely consists of humorous biographies of characters from Dumfries and Galloway.[3]

He died in Edinburgh on 22 November 1928. He is buried in Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh.[4] The grave lies under a tree in the south-east section behind the grave of Samuel Bough. It has a portrait medallion by the sculptor William Birnie Rhind. Waugh is also memorialised at 19 East Morton Street, Thornhill, with a bust by Henry Snell Gamley completed after Gamley’s death by Rhind.[5]

Publications

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  • Thornhill and Its Worthies (1905 plus several later editions)
  • Robbie Doo (1912) (Robbie Doo was a stone-mason in Thornhill)
  • Robert Burns: A Poem (1912)
  • Cracks Wi' Robbie Doo (1914)
  • Betty Grier (1915)
  • Cute McCheyne and Other Stories (1917)
  • Heroes in Homespun (1921)
  • And A Little Child Shall Lead Them

Family

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He was married to Isabelle Goldie (1876-1949).

Artistic recognition

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A bust of Waugh is placed on a building in his home town of Thornhill.[6] A portrait also exists in the Dumfries Museum.[7]

In August 2010 a lecture on Waugh was presented to the Thornhill branch of Rotary International.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Other Literary Figures". Dumfriesshirecompanion.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  2. ^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1911-12
  3. ^ Kailyard and Scottish Literature by Andrew Nash
  4. ^ Charles Sale (8 January 2014). "Gravestone Photographs Resource Countries index page". Gravestonephotos.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  5. ^ ArtUK. "Joseph Laing Waugh (1868–1928)". Public Catalogue Foundation. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  6. ^ Dan (30 January 2015). "Joseph Laing Waugh | The British Isles were the limit, but now the world!". Wanderersintimeandplace.wordpress.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Joseph Laing Waugh (1868–1928) | Art UK Art UK | Discover Artworks Joseph Laing Waugh (1868–1928)". Artuk.org. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Topic: Joseph Laing Waugh - Rotary Club of Thornhill & District". Rotary-ribi.org. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2017.