BUCHAN

buchan, peter (1790-1854), scottish editor, was born at peterhead, aberdeenshire, in 1790. in 1816 he started in business as a printer at peterhead, and was successful enough to be able eventually to retire and devote himself to the collection and editing of scottish ballads. his _ancient ballads and songs of the north of scotland_ (1828) contained a large number of hitherto unpublished ballads, and newly discovered versions of existing ones. another collection made by him was published by the percy society, under the title _scottish traditional versions of ancient ballads_ (1845). two unpublished volumes of buchan's ballad collections are in the british museum. he died on the 19th of september 1854.