S. R. Crockett

Samuel Rutherford Crockett (24 September 1859 – 16 April 1914), who published under the name "S. R. Crockett", was a Scottish novelist.

Life and work

He was born at Little Duchrae, Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire, Galloway, on 24 September 1859, the illegitimate son of dairymaid Annie Crocket. He was raised by his Cameronian grandparents on the tenanted farm until 1867 when the family moved to Cotton Street, Castle Douglas (later fictionalised as Cairn Edward).

He won the Galloway bursary to Edinburgh University in 1876, where he studied for an MA. He began his journalistic career to supplement his bursary, writing for magazines from 1877.

He matriculated at Edinburgh each year until 1880 but in April 1881 he left the University without formally graduating. It is thought he travelled abroad during this summer, but returned to matriculate at Edinburgh's New College for a BSc in November 1881. He matriculated there again in 1882 and in 1883 but during 1884 he once more travelled abroad for an extensive period, working as a tutor. He returned to matriculate for Divinity in December 1885 and finally graduated in the summer of 1886.

He became minister of The Free Kirk Penicuik in November 1886. He married Ruth Mary Milner (daughter of George Milner) on March 10, 1887. He played a large part in gaining justice for the relatives of victims in the Mauricewood Pit Disaster of 1889. He became a member of the Scottish Arts Club in 1894. He left the ministry in January 1895 to pursue a full-time writing career.