Cunningham, ALLAN, poet and industrious man of letters, was born in the parish of Keir, Dumfriesshire, 7th December 1784. His father was factor or land-steward to Miller of Dalswinton, and therefore neighbour to Burns at Ellisland; and Allan, a boy of twelve, followed at the great poet's funeral. At eleven he was apprenticed to a stone-mason, but continued to give all his leisure to poring over native songs and stories. His first publications were his verse and prose contributions to Cromek's sham-antique Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song (1810). These, while they did not of course deceive the learned, or apparently even Cromek himself, procured the clever young mason the acquaintance of Hogg and Sir Walter Scott. With the latter, 'Honest Allan' was always a great favourite. He now removed to London, and became one of the best-known writers for the London Magazine, as well as secretary and manager in Chantrey's studio, a post which he held till Chantrey's death in 1841. Though thus busily employed all day, Cunningham maintained an indefatigable literary activity, writing tales, novels, magazine articles, poems, songs, and biographies. His best works were his Traditional Tales of the English and Scottish Peasantry (1822); The Songs of Scotland, Ancient and Modern (1825); Lives of the Most Famous British Painters, Sculptors, and Architects (6 vols. 1829-33); and his edition of Burns, with Life (8 vols. 1834). His Life of Sir David Wilkie appeared posthumously. He died in London, 30th October 1842. Cunningham was a remarkably worthy and kindly man, whose 'stalwart healthy figure and ways' pleased even Carlyle—but then he was from Dumfriesshire. As a Scotch poet, he ranks, perhaps, after James Hogg. His songs, although marred by defects in taste, have the true lyrical impulse and movement. See Life by the Rev. David Hogg (Dumf. 1875).
Of his sons, the eldest, Joseph Davey (1812-51), rose in the Indian service, and wrote a good history of the Sikhs (1849); Major-general Sir Alexander (1814-93) wrote on Indian archaeology and statistics; Peter (see below) became a well-known man of letters; Francis (1820-75), also an Indian soldier, edited Marlowe, Massinger, and Ben Jonson.