Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Semple, David
SEMPLE, DAVID (1808–1878), antiquary, was born at Townhead, Paisley, on 21 Aug. 1808. Educated in the local grammar school and trained in a lawyer's office, he settled in business on his own account in Paisley, and was considered an able conveyancer. He was long the agent for the liberals of the burgh. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He died at Paisley on 23 Dec. 1878.
Semple's works—mainly dealing with local history—are: 1. ‘Poll-tax Rolls of Renfrewshire of 1695,’ published in 1862. 2. ‘The Lairds of Glen’ and ‘History of the Cross Steeple,’ 1868. 3. ‘St. Mirin, with two supplements, a learned and patient treatise on the patron saint of Paisley, 1872. 4. ‘Barons and Barony of Renfrewshire,’ 1876. 5. ‘The Tree of Crockston,’ 1876. 6. ‘Abbey Bridge of Paisley,’ 1878. He also prepared a complete edition of Tannahill's ‘Poems,’ with a memoir and notes (Glasgow, 1870, 8vo).
[Irving's Book of Eminent Scotsmen; Brown's Paisley Poets.]