James Hogg, also referred to as the Ettrick Shepherd, was a prominent Scottish poet, novelist, and essayist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Born on December 9, 1770, in Ettrick, Selkirkshire, in the Scottish Borders, Hogg was the second of four sons born to Robert Hogg, a tenant farmer, and Margaret Laidlaw, who was known for her storytelling abilities. By the age of seven, Hogg was already working as a cowherd, and by his mid-teens, he had taken on the role of shepherd. His formal education was brief, but Hogg was an avid reader, borrowing books whenever he could.

Hogg’s first significant break came through his association with Sir Walter Scott, one of the most famous literary figures of the time. Scott included some of Hogg’s poems in his collection The Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border (1802-1803). This publication helped Hogg gain recognition and introduced him to the literary circles of Edinburgh. Despite their different social standings, Hogg and Scott developed a complex friendship. In 1801, Hogg published his first collection of poems, Scottish Pastorals, Poems, Songs, Etc., under the pseudonym “The Ettrick Shepherd,” a name that would remain associated with him throughout his career.