Samuel Laing (travel writer)

Epitaph for Samuel Laing in St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall

Samuel Laing (1780 – 1868) from Papdale in Orkney was a Scottish travel writer. He travelled in Scandinavia and northern Germany and published descriptions of these countries.

Laing's son, also named Samuel Laing, was a railway administrator and important writer on religion and science, and a Liberal Member of Parliament.

Works[]

• Journal of a residence in Norway during the years 1834, 1835, and 1836, 1836
• A tour in Sweden in 1838, 1839
  • In this work, the author strongly criticises the Swedish-Norwegian union, implying that Norway ought to strive for independence. This caused a comment from the Swedish-Norwegian ambassador in London, M. Björnstierna, On the moral state and political union of Sweden and Norway, 1840.
• Notes of a traveller, 1842
  • Covers journeys in Prussia and other countries. The preface contains a response to Björnstierna.
• Heimskringla. The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway, 3 vols., 1844
  • English translation of the 13th-century Icelandic work by Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla.

References[]

• "Laing, Samuel" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

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