James Hogg (1770-1835) was born near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. From a young age he was determined to be a poet like Burns. He became friends with Walter Scott and in 1810 he went to Edinburgh to seek a literary career. His best-known work, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner made little impact when it first appeared anonymously in 1824. He continued to publish poetry and prose until his death.
