Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Meikle, James
MEIKLE, JAMES (1730–1799), surgeon and devotional writer, born at Carnwath, in the upper part of Clydesdale, 19 May 1730, was fifth child of George Meikle, a surgeon and druggist of humble means. James, a delicate boy, received little regular education; but he was religiously brought up by his parents, and when about sixteen years old joined the ‘Secession,’ a body which had separated from the established kirk of Scotland in 1732. A wish to study at Edinburgh for the ministry remained unfulfilled owing to his poverty and the death of his father in February 1748, which left his mother and two sisters dependent on his exertions. He managed to attend some medical lectures at Edinburgh, and returned to Carnwath in 1750, intending as a temporary expedient to practise as a surgeon. But his difficulties grew, and in December 1757 he resolved on entering the royal navy. After passing at Surgeons' Hall in London he was appointed second surgeon's mate to the Portland, a 50-gun ship, in April 1758. Although he was distressed by the abandoned conduct both of the officers and the crew, they grew to respect him. He employed himself much in reading and writing; many of the ‘Meditations,’ which afterwards appeared in ‘The Traveller’ and in ‘Solitude Sweetened,’ being composed at this time. After cruising about on the western coast of France and in the Mediterranean, the Portland was ordered to join the fleet under Admiral Boscawen, and took part in the victory off Cape Lagos, 18 Aug. 1759. His ship being ordered home with the prisoners and for repairs, Meikle reached Spithead on 16 Sept. An application to the admiralty for his supersession was refused, but he was promoted to the rank of first mate, and put to sea again on 22 Oct. He joined the fleet under Admiral Hawke, and took part in the great victory off Belleisle on 20 Nov. After repeated applications he obtained his discharge in February 1762, and immediately returned to Carnwath. He went to Edinburgh for some months in the summer of 1764 to prosecute his professional studies. In July 1789 he was ordained to the eldership in the congregation of Biggar, and continued his devotional writings to the last week of his life, dying rather suddenly on 7 Dec. 1799. In 1779 he married his first wife, who died in 1782; he married again in 1785, and left behind him a widow and five children in very poor circumstances. He was a man of earnest religious feeling, and at the same time of great cheerfulness, a characteristic which the titles of his works would scarcely lead one to expect. In 1797 he published a small volume entitled ‘Metaphysical Maxims,’ which was reprinted, Edinburgh, 1805, 1807. He left behind him a large number of religious meditations in prose and verse, a selection from which was published by subscription for the benefit of his widow, with the title, ‘The Select Remains … or Extracts … entitled: I. The Monthly Memorial, or a Periodical Interview with the King of Terrors. II. A Secret Survey into the State of the Soul. III. The House of Mourning, or Poems on Melancholy Subjects. IV. The Tomb,’ Edinburgh, 1803; 2nd edit., enlarged, 1804. This volume was so well received that it was followed in the same year by 2. ‘Solitude Sweetened, or Miscellaneous Meditations on various Religious Subjects,’ of which a 7th edit. was published, Edinburgh, 1823. He also wrote: 3. ‘The Traveller, or Meditations on various Subjects … to which is added, Converse with the World Unseen,’ with a life of the author by James Peddie, Edinburgh, 1805; 4th edit. Edinburgh, 1816; reprinted, Aberdeen, 1844; and 4. ‘Miscellaneous Works … containing all his remaining Pieces in Prose intended for Publication,’ Edinburgh, 1807. The verses (which he himself preferred to his prose meditations) have little apart from their religious sentiments to recommend them.
[James Peddie's Life prefixed to ‘The Traveller;’ Christian Magazine for February 1800; Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica, ii. 662.]