Mark Alexander Boyd, Scottish poet and soldier (d. 1601)
Mark Alexander Boyd (13 January 1562 – 10 April 1601) was a Scottish poet and soldier of fortune. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland. His father was from Penkill, Carrick, in Ayrshire. He was educated under the care of his uncle, the Archbishop of Glasgow, James Boyd of Trochrig. As a young man, he left Scotland for France, where he studied civil law. He took part in the French Wars of Religion, serving in the army of Henri III.
He had two collections of Latin poems published, in 1590 and 1592, at a time when he was teaching at the College of Guienne in Bordeaux. He returned to Scotland in 1596, and died back in Ayrshire on 10 April 1601. He is now remembered for one poem in Scots, the Sonnet of Venus and Cupid, which was attributed to him by Arthur Quiller-Couch in 1900, and which Ezra Pound called "the most beautiful sonnet in the language"
1562Jan, 13
Mark Alexander Boyd
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Events on 1562
- 17Jan
Edict of Saint-Germain
France recognizes the Huguenots by the Edict of Saint-Germain. - 18Jan
Council of Trent
Pope Pius IV reopens the Council of Trent for its third and final session. - 1Mar
Massacre of Wassy
Sixty-three Huguenots are massacred in Wassy, France, marking the start of the French Wars of Religion.