Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Conolly, Erskine
CONOLLY, ERSKINE (1796–1843), Scotch poet, was born at Crail, Fifeshire, on 12 June 1796. He was educated at the burgh school of his native town, and afterwards apprenticed to a bookseller at Anstruther. Subsequently he began business on his own account in Colinsburgh, but not succeeding to his satisfaction went to Edinburgh, where, after serving for some time as clerk to a writer to the signet, he obtained a partnership with a solicitor, and after his partner's death succeeded to the whole business. He died at Edinburgh on 7 Jan. 1843. Among the best known of his songs is 'Mary Macneil,' which appeared in the 'Edinburgh Intelligencer,' 23 Dec. 1840. He never made any collection of his poems.
[Conolly's Dictionary of Eminent Men of Fife, p. 126; Charles Roger's Modern Scottish Minstrel, pp. 247–8; Grant-Wilson's Poets and Poetry of Scotland, ii. 175–6.]