Quick Facts
- Also called:
- Alison Cockburn
- Born:
- Oct. 8, 1713, Fairnilee, Selkirkshire, Scot.
- Died:
- Nov. 22, 1794, Edinburgh (aged 81)
- Notable Works:
- “Flowers of the Forest”
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Alicia Cockburn
Scottish author
Also known as: Alison Cockburn
Alicia Cockburn (born Oct. 8, 1713, Fairnilee, Selkirkshire, Scot.—died Nov. 22, 1794, Edinburgh) was a Scottish author who wrote the original version of the popular ballad “Flowers of the Forest.” Her lyrics beginning “I’ve seen the smiling of Fortune beguiling,” set to the old air of “Flowers of the Forest,” were probably written before 1731, although they were not published until 1765. They were occasioned by the failure of seven Selkirkshire lairds in their financial speculations. After her marriage to Patrick Cockburn of Ormiston, Scot., she became famous for her wit and brilliance as a hostess. She gathered around her a circle of literary and political celebrities that included Sir Walter Scott.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use.