Editing Walter Scott (section)

==Student==
[[File:Portrait of Sir Walter Scott (4673840).jpg|thumb|150px|upright|left|Sketch of Scott c.1800 by an unknown artist]]
Scott began studying classics at the [[University of Edinburgh]] in November 1783, at the age of 12, a year or so younger than most fellow students. In March 1786, aged 14, he began an apprenticeship in his father's office to become a [[Writer to the Signet]]. At school and university Scott had become a friend of [[Adam Ferguson (British Army officer)|Adam Ferguson]], whose father Professor [[Adam Ferguson]] hosted literary salons.<ref>[[#CITEREFLockhart1852|Lockhart]], pp. 378–379.</ref> Scott met the blind poet [[Thomas Blacklock]], who lent him books and introduced him to the [[Ossian]] cycle of poems by [[James Macpherson]]. During the winter of 1786–1787, a 15-year-old Scott met the Scots poet [[Robert Burns]] at one of these salons, their only meeting. When Burns noticed a print illustrating the poem "The Justice of the Peace" and asked who had written it, Scott alone named the author as [[John Langhorne (poet)|John Langhorne]] and was thanked by Burns. Scott describes the event in his memoirs, where he whispers the answer to his friend [[Adam Ferguson (British Army officer)|Adam]], who tells Burns;<ref>[[#CITEREFLockhart1852|Lockhart]], p. 38.</ref> another version of the event appears in ''Literary Beginnings''.<ref name=lit>{{Cite web |url=http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/biography/beginning.html |title=Literary Beginnings |publisher=Walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk |date=11 December 2007 |access-date=29 November 2009}}</ref>

When it was decided that he would become a lawyer, he returned to the university to study law, first taking classes in moral philosophy (under [[Dugald Stewart]]) and universal history (under [[Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee|Alexander Fraser Tytler]]) in 1789–1790.<ref name=uni/> During this second university spell Scott became prominent in student intellectual activities: he co-founded the Literary Society in 1789 and was elected to [[the Speculative Society]] the following year, becoming librarian and secretary-treasurer a year after.<ref name=hewitt>Hewitt, David (2004) "Scott, Sir Walter (1771–1832)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''. {{doi|10.1093/ref:odnb/24928}}</ref>

After completing his law studies, Scott took up law in Edinburgh. He made his first visit as a lawyer's clerk to the Scottish Highlands, directing an eviction. He was admitted to the [[Faculty of Advocates]] in 1792. He had an unsuccessful love suit with Williamina Belsches of Fettercairn, who married Scott's friend [[William Forbes, 7th Baronet|Sir William Forbes, 7th Baronet]]. In February 1797, the threat of a French invasion persuaded Scott and many of his friends to join the [[British Volunteer Corps|Royal Edinburgh Volunteer Light Dragoons]], where he served into the early 1800s,<ref>J. G. Lockhart, 1872. [https://archive.org/details/lockhartslifeofs00lock/page/n11/mode/2up The Life Of Scott]. Ch. 2.</ref> and was appointed [[quartermaster]] and secretary. The daily drill practices that year, starting at 5 a.m., indicate the determination with which the role was undertaken.<ref>J. G. Lockhart, 1872. The Life Of Scott. Ch. 2 p.49</ref>