Walter Scott.

Born 15 Aug 1771 Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Died 21 Sep 1832 Abbotsford, United Kingdom

Citizenship United Kingdom

7 min read

Reading time

1,309

Words

Mar 21, 2026

Published

166

Books

Awards

TL;DR

Sir Walter Scott, born in 1771 in Edinburgh, overcame childhood polio. His first novel Waverley 1814 and Ivanhoe 1819 defined the historical novel genre. He died in 1832 after strokes.

Identity & family.

KIN · 5

Names, aliases, and relatives of Walter Scott — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Aliases Sir Walter Scott, V. Skott

PARENTS: Anne Rutherford
SPOUSES: Marguerite Charlotte Charpentier
CHILDREN: Charlotte Sophia Lockhart Anne Scott Charles Scott

At a glance.

STATS

Walter Scott by the numbers — life, work, and family.

61 Years lived

166 Books

2 Awards

1 Marriage

3 Children

Who was Walter Scott?

BIOGRAPHY

Walter Scott — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Polio struck Walter Scott at age two, crippling his left leg. He was born in Edinburgh in 1771 to solicitor Walter Scott and Anne Rutherford, the ninth child. His aunt Jenny Scott taught him to read and shared border tales. He studied at Edinburgh University before apprenticing with his father’s law firm. In 1786 and 1787, while in the Highlands, he met Alexander Stewart and Robert Burns.

His first love broke his heart by marrying another, but he married Frenchwoman Charlotte Charpentier on Christmas Day 1797.

Career

Scott published The Lay of the Last Minstrel 1805 and Marmion 1808, which became popular. He declined the Poet Laureateship in 1813. He turned to prose and published Waverley in 1814, an instant success. He followed with Rob Roy 1817 and Ivanhoe 1819, establishing the historical novel genre. He continued writing until a stroke in 1831 and died on 21 September 1832.

Personal life

Scott married Marguerite Charlotte Charpentier on 25 December 1797. They had four children: Charlotte Sophia born 1799, Walter 1801, Anne 1803, and Charles 1805. Charlotte died on 15 May 1826, a loss that deeply affected Scott. He never remarried.

Legacy

Scott popularized the historical novel in English literature. His works like Waverley and Ivanhoe influenced later writers such as Alexandre Dumas and Robert Louis Stevenson. The line Oh what a tangled web we weave, from his poem Marmion 1808, is often misattributed to Shakespeare. King George IV created him a baronet in 1820. The Royal Society of Edinburgh elected him a Fellow. Scott remains a major Scottish literary figure, with his novels still widely read.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 2

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Walter Scott — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
baronet

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 166

Walter Scott's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Ivanhoe

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

Rob Roy

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

Waverley – Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

Kenilworth

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

Quentin Durward, Or, the Fortunate Scotsman

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

The Lady of the Lake

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

Peveril of the Peak

by Sir Walter Scott et al.
Amazon

Anne of Geierstein, Or, the Maiden of the Mist

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

The Antiquary

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

The Abbot

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

Old Mortality

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

The Black Dwarf

by Sir Walter Scott
Amazon

Guy Mannering

by Sir Walter Scott

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Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 7

A wall of memorable lines from Walter Scott — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

Ambition Breaks the Ties of Blood, and Forgets the Obligations of Gratitude.
Cats Are a Mysterious Kind of Folk. There Is More Passing in Their Minds Than We Are Aware Of.
True Love’s the Gift Which God Has Given, to Man Alone Beneath the Heaven.
The Willow Which Bends to the Tempest, Often Escapes Better Than the Oak Which Resists It; and so in Great Calamities, It Sometimes Happens That Light and Frivolous Spirits Recover Their Elasticity and Presence of Mind Sooner Than Those of a Loftier Character.
One Hour of Life, Crowded to the Full with Glorious Action, and Filled with Noble Risks, Is Worth Whole Years of Those Mean Observances of Paltry Decorum, in Which Men Steal Through Existence, Like Sluggish Waters Through a Marsh, Without Either Honor or Observation.
Oh, What a Tangled Web We Weave, When First We Practice to Deceive.
Death the Last Sleep? No It Is the Final Awakening.

Did you know?

FACTS · 6

Little-known facts about Walter Scott — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Scott fathered four children: Charlotte Sophia 1799, Walter 1801, Anne 1803, and Charles 1805.
King George IV created Scott a baronet in 1820.
Oh what a tangled web we weave is often misattributed to Shakespeare, but it was written by Scott in his 1808 poem Marmion.
Too sickly for school in early childhood, Scott learned to read from his aunt Jenny Scott, who narrated legends he later used as inspiration.
Scott was the ninth child and namesake of solicitor Walter Scott 1729-1799; his maternal uncle Daniel Rutherford isolated nitrogen in 1772.
Contemporaries noted Scott’s unremarkable appearance, except for his distinctive blue eyes. Painter C. R. Leslie described them as very blue, shrewd, and penetrating.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 30

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Walter Scott.

When was Walter Scott born?

Walter Scott was born on August 15, 1771, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the ninth child of his parents.
Where was Walter Scott born?

He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. This city later became a backdrop for many of his historical novels.
When did Walter Scott die?

Walter Scott died on September 21, 1832, at his estate Abbotsford in Roxburgh, Scotland. He was 61 years old at the time.
How old was Walter Scott when he died?

Scott died at age 61. He was born in 1771 and passed away in 1832 after a series of strokes.
Where did Walter Scott die?

He died at Abbotsford, his home in Roxburgh, Scotland, UK. Abbotsford was a grand estate he had built for himself.
How did Walter Scott die?

Scott died after a series of strokes. He had suffered a stroke and apoplectic paralysis in 1831 before his death in September 1832.
What did Walter Scott do for a living?

Scott was primarily a writer and also worked as a soundtrack artist. He is best known for his novels and poems.
What nationality was Walter Scott?

Walter Scott was British, born in Scotland. He lived and worked in the United Kingdom his entire life.
What language did Walter Scott speak?

His native language was English. He wrote all his works in English, though he incorporated Scots dialect in dialogue.
Who were Walter Scott's parents?

His father was Walter Scott, a solicitor, and his mother was Anne Rutherford. His uncle Daniel Rutherford was a notable chemist.
Who was Walter Scott married to?

Scott married Marguerite Charlotte Charpentier on Christmas Day 1797. She was French and they had a happy marriage until her death in 1826.
Did Walter Scott have children?

Yes, Scott had four children: Charlotte Sophia born 1799, Walter 1801, Anne 1803, and Charles 1805.
Where did Walter Scott go to school?

Scott attended the Royal High School, Kelso High School, Jordan High School, and later the University of Edinburgh and its School of Law.
What awards did Walter Scott win?

He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was created a baronet in 1820, a hereditary knighthood.
Why is Walter Scott also known as Sir Walter Scott and V. Skott?

After being created a baronet in 1820, he was often referred to as Sir Walter Scott. The alias V. Skott appears in some records, possibly for translations or adaptations.
What is Walter Scott best known for?

Scott is best known for his historical novels like Waverley 1814, Rob Roy 1817, and Ivanhoe 1819, as well as his poem Marmion 1808.
Was Walter Scott married?

Yes, he was married to Marguerite Charlotte Charpentier from December 25, 1797, until her death on May 15, 1826.
What was Walter Scott's first novel?

His first novel was Waverley, published anonymously in 1814. It became a huge success and set the stage for his later works.
What famous line did Walter Scott write?

Scott wrote the line Oh what a tangled web we weave in his poem Marmion 1808. It is often mistakenly attributed to Shakespeare.
Did Walter Scott have polio?

Yes, Scott contracted polio at age two, which left his left leg crippled. Despite this, he grew into a tall and energetic man.
Who taught Walter Scott to read?

His aunt Jenny Scott taught him to read when he was too sickly to attend school. She also narrated legends that influenced his writing.
What was the cause of Walter Scott's death?

Scott died after a series of strokes in 1832. He had suffered a stroke the previous year.
How many children did Walter Scott have?

He had four children: two daughters, Charlotte Sophia and Anne, and two sons, Walter and Charles.
What honor was bestowed on Walter Scott in 1820?

King George IV created him a baronet in 1820, making him Sir Walter Scott from then on.
Where did Walter Scott write his novels?

Scott wrote at his estate Abbotsford in Roxburghshire, Scotland, which he had built with his literary earnings.
Who was Walter Scott's uncle?

His maternal uncle was Daniel Rutherford, the chemist who isolated nitrogen in 1772. This is a notable scientific achievement.
What was Walter Scott's appearance like?

Contemporaries described him as unremarkable except for his striking blue eyes. Painter C. R. Leslie called them very blue, shrewd, and penetrating.
Did Walter Scott reject the Poet Laureateship?

Yes, in 1813 Scott was offered the Poet Laureateship but declined. He believed it was an honor too tied to the monarchy.
What is the setting of Scott's novel Ivanhoe?

Ivanhoe is set in 12th-century England, featuring knights, tournaments, and the conflict between Normans and Saxons.
Who was Walter Scott's first love?

Scott’s first love, whose name is not recorded, broke his heart by marrying another man. This experience influenced his writings.

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Audited & updated by

Sophia has 4 years of editorial experience and a habit of becoming the person any team leans on when they need to know where something stands. At Famousy, she manages the content pipeline, coordinates reviews, and handles the detail work that keeps a large editorial operation from falling apart. She reads a lot of profiles in the process and she's developed a sharp instinct for when something doesn't feel right. She flags it. It usually is.

Published on March 21, 2026

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