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'''William Topaz McGonagall''' (1830-1902) was a noted [[Scotland|Scottish]] poet.
'''William Topaz McGonagall''' (1830-1902) was a noted [[Scotland|Scottish]] poet, tragedian and historian.
A minimally educated weaver, he only took to poetry late in life, following an [[epiphany]]. He took at once to writing memorable verses, often about his native land, some of the most famous being, ''"Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay"'' and ''"The [[Tay Bridge]] Disaster"'', and walked all the way to [[Balmoral Castle]] to obtain the patronage of [[Queen Victoria]].
A minimally educated weaver, he only took to poetry late in life, following an [[epiphany]]. He took at once to writing memorable verses, often about his native land, some of the most famous being, ''"Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay"'' and ''"The [[Tay Bridge]] Disaster"'', and walked all the way to [[Balmoral Castle]] to obtain the patronage of [[Queen Victoria]].
He was a celebrated live performer, dressed in [[tartan]] and brandishing a [[broadsword]] as he declaimed his verse, performing regularly in his home town of Dundee, and latterly all across lower Scotland.
He was a celebrated live performer, dressed in [[tartan]] and brandishing a [[broadsword]] as he declaimed his verse, performing regularly in his home town of Dundee, and latterly all across lower Scotland.
Many Scottish legends especially that of the [[Horserider]] are woven into the fabric of his poetry.
An early advocate of [[Temperance]], his poetry frequently warned against the perils of [[alcohol]].
An early advocate of [[Temperance]], his poetry frequently warned against the perils of [[alcohol]].