new thread
The Ettrick Shepherd is the name given to James Hogg, born in the 1770s, and regarded by many at the time as a worthy successor to Burns as Scottish National Poet. There is a statue of him overlooking St Mary's Loch, an amazingy beautiful place, and well worth a visit if you are in that part of Scotland. (The pub nearby does excellent meals, too!)
I came across the following extract in 'Scottsh Minstrel', a book of the 'Songs of Scotand subesequent to Burns', published in 1870, but quoting William Laidlaw, James Hogg's employer, speaking in around 1790.
"About 19 years of age, Hogg was rather above the middle height, of faultless symmetry of form; he was of almost unequalled agility and swiftness. His head was covered with a singular profusion of light brown hair, which he was obliged to wear coiled up under his hat. On entering Church on a Sunday he used, on lifting his hat, to raise his right hand to assist a graceful shake of his head in laying back his long hair, which rolled down his back. And every female eye was upon him, as, with light step, he ascended the stair to the gallery where he sat."
Only one piece of evidence, it is true, but it seems that ladies of the 1790s appreciated a man with a good head of hair.
Hello Everyone,
In the 1790's long hair on men was going out of style gradually, as the industrial age was settling in. However in much of the 1800's hair length was at most shoulder-length. Towards the middle it seemed to be covering the ears with very conspicouous sideburns. One new thing started by the 1830's: Photography using a procedure called Daguerreotype, and in some of the early portraits, long-haired men can be seen. Just google daguerreotype.
Have a nice day,
Georges
Thanks Georges - an interesting pic. I will look up my old friend Daguerre (not that I knew him, but I have studied him before when seeking old images).