Martin Martin (Scottish Gaelic:Màrtainn MacGilleMhàrtainn[1]) (c. 1660–9 October 1718) was aScottish writer best known for his workA Description of the Western Islands of Scotland (1703; second edition 1716).[2] This book is particularly noted for its information on theSt Kilda archipelago. Martin's description of St Kilda, which he visited in 1697, had also been published some years earlier asA Late Voyage to St Kilda (1698).
Martin was a native of Bealach, nearDuntulm onSkye. He was born around 1660, a son of Donald Martin, who served with theMacDonalds of Sleat underJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, and his wife Màiri, who was a niece ofSir Donald Gorme Og Macdonald, 1st Baronet. He is thought to have had at least two brothers,[3] one of whom may have beentacksman atFlodigarry on Skye.
Martin graduatedMA from theUniversity of Edinburgh in 1681. Between 1681 and 1686, he was a tutor toSir Donald Macdonald, 4th Baronet, and, from 1686 to 1695, he was tutor and governor to Ruaraidh Òg MacLeod ofHarris. Much of this period was spent in Edinburgh where the young chief was a student at the university.[3]
Martin undertook his voyage to St Kilda in May 1697 and his tour ofLewis in 1699 under the patronage ofHans Sloane, the Secretary of theRoyal Society in London. The Scottish antiquary,Sir Robert Sibbald, considered that his command ofGaelic, knowledge of the customs ofGaeldom and connections withHebridean elites made him well qualified for the task. He was an assiduous collector of natural specimens and minerals during his trips.[3]
BothSamuel Johnson andBoswell read his book and took a copy of it along with them on their famous tour in 1773.[4] Johnson felt Martin had failed to record the more interesting aspects of life at the time, and suggested that this was because he was unaware of just how different the social structure of theWestern Isles was in comparison to life elsewhere. Some of Martin's descriptions ofsecond sight and other superstitions led Johnson to regard him as credulous.
Martin is also known for his early descriptions ofScotch whisky:[5]
Their plenty of Corn was such, as dispos'd the Natives to brew several sorts of Liquors, as commonUsquebaugh, another call'dTrestarig, id est Aquavitae, three times distill'd, which is strong and hot; a third sort is four times distill'd, and this by the Natives is call'dUsquebaugh-baul, id estUsquebaugh, which at first taste affects all the Members of the Body: two spoonfuls of this last Liquor is a sufficient Dose; and if any Man exceed this, it would presently stop his Breath, and endanger his Life. TheTrestarig andUsquebaugh-baul, are both made of Oats.[6]
Early in 1708, Martin moved toLondon where he became tutor to the third son of theEarl of Bradford and accompanied him on a tour ofItaly. In 1710, he enteredLeiden University, and there graduated asMD, afterwards practicing medicine inLondon until his death.[3] He was unmarried and died "of anAsthma" in Knightsbridge on 9 October 1718 aged around 58 years old.[7]
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