William Falconer

William Falconer was a Scottish poet and sailor born in Edinburgh in 1732. His most well-known work, The Shipwreck (1762), tells the tale of a storm-tossed vessel, showcasing his genuine talent for describing life at sea. The work earned him the patronage of the Duke of York, which helped him secure appointments as a purser on various warships. Falconer had personal experience surviving a shipwreck, having been one of only three survivors of a trading ship on a voyage from Alexandria to Venice....See more

William Falconer was a Scottish poet and sailor born in Edinburgh in 1732. His most well-known work, The Shipwreck (1762), tells the tale of a storm-tossed vessel, showcasing his genuine talent for describing life at sea. The work earned him the patronage of the Duke of York, which helped him secure appointments as a purser on various warships. Falconer had personal experience surviving a shipwreck, having been one of only three survivors of a trading ship on a voyage from Alexandria to Venice. Falconer also wrote a poem on the death of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and contributed to the Gentleman's Magazine. He published An Universal Dictionary of the Marine in 1769, compiling marine terms, which became a standard reference work in the field. Falconer continued to serve in the Navy, becoming purser of the frigate Glory, aboard which he wrote the political satire Demagogue. He was later purser of the Swiftsure. Unfortunately, Falconer was lost at sea in 1769 while a passenger on the frigate Aurora during a voyage to India. Although his literary career was brief, Falconer left behind a lasting legacy in his vivid depictions of life at sea and his contributions to the field of marine terminology. See less