Dunbar, William (1)

a Scotch poet and monk, was born at Salton, East Lothian, about 1465, and educated at the University of St. Andrews. He afterwards became a Franciscan, and travelled in Scotland, England, and France, as a preacher. He was for some time in the diplomatic service of James IV, and resided at his court as a pensioner. He died in 1530. His poetry began to be made known to the public about the beginning of the last century. His principal allegorical poems are, The Thistle and the Rose: — The Dance of the Seven Deadly Sins through Hell: — and The Golden Terge. Critics speak in the highest praise of his poetry, some of them placing him in the very front rank of Scottish poets. See Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.; Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.