Canongate Churchyard

Why This Place Matters

Canongate Churchyard contains the grave of John Ballantyne, one of Sir Walter Scott’s closest collaborators in the literary world. Ballantyne acted as Scott’s publisher, agent, and intermediary in negotiations with the Edinburgh book trade, playing an important role in the publication of Scott’s works.

Scott’s friendship with Ballantyne was both professional and personal. When John Ballantyne died in 1821, Scott attended the funeral here and reportedly remarked that he felt as though “there would be less sunshine” in his life thereafter.

The burial of John Ballantyne in the Canongate therefore marks the resting place of one of the key figures in the publication and promotion of Scott’s writings.

Historical Context

Canongate Churchyard, established in the late seventeenth century, became the burial place of many notable figures connected with Edinburgh’s intellectual and cultural life. Among those buried here are the economist Adam Smith, the poet Robert Fergusson, and a number of scholars and civic leaders.

The churchyard thus reflects the social and intellectual networks that shaped Edinburgh during the Enlightenment and Romantic periods.

Scott Here

John Ballantyne was deeply involved in the publication of Scott’s works. Acting as publisher, auctioneer, and literary agent, he handled many of the practical arrangements that allowed Scott’s writings to reach the public.

Scott valued Ballantyne’s loyalty and companionship, and the two men worked together for many years within the closely connected world of Edinburgh’s book trade.

After John’s death in 1821, his elder brother James Ballantyne, the printer who produced Scott’s books at the press in Paul’s Work, was later buried in the same churchyard following his death in 1833.

The Bigger Theme

The burial of the Ballantyne brothers in Canongate Churchyard highlights the collaborative nature of Scott’s literary career. The creation and publication of the Waverley novels depended not only on Scott’s authorship but also on the work of printers, publishers, and agents who formed part of the Edinburgh publishing network.

The churchyard therefore represents the resting place of two figures who played crucial roles in bringing Scott’s works into print.

Literary Connections

The Ballantyne brothers were central to the production and publication of the Waverley novels. James Ballantyne’s press printed the books, while John Ballantyne helped manage their publication and promotion.

Their partnership with Scott formed one of the most significant collaborations in the history of the nineteenth-century book trade.

What to Notice On Site

The burial place of the Ballantyne brothers does not have a large monument. Instead, it is marked by a small plaque attached to the base of the Fettes mausoleum, reflecting the financial difficulties that affected the Ballantyne firm during the publishing crisis of the 1820s.

Visitors may also notice nearby monuments to other notable figures connected with Scotland’s intellectual history.

The Ballantyne grave itself is unusual. No original gravestone survives. Instead the burial place is marked by a small bronze plaque fixed to the base of the Fettes mausoleum, indicating the approximate position of the Ballantyne burial. A fuller account of the plaque and its history can be found in the article “The Ballantyne Plaque in Canongate Kirkyard.”

Questions to Consider

How important were printers and publishers in shaping the success of nineteenth-century authors?

What role did friendship and personal networks play in the Edinburgh literary world?

How do burial places help preserve the memory of individuals who worked behind the scenes of literary history?

Further Reading

Lockhart, J. G. - Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott.
Millgate, Jane. -Walter Scott: The Making of the Novelist.

Hutton, Laurence - Literary Landmarks of Edinburgh.

Did You Know?

The Ballantyne brothers played such a central role in Scott’s publishing ventures that their printing business became financially entangled with Scott’s own affairs, contributing to the complex debts he later worked tirelessly to repay.

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