John Ewen

John Ewen (1741–1821) was a Scottish songwriter, credited with the authorship of the well-known Scottish song, "The Boatie Rows".

Life Ewen was born in Montrose to poor parents, and received little education. He moved in 1762 to Aberdeen, where he opened a successful hardware shop. He married in 1766 Janet Middleton, one of two daughters of a yarn and stocking maker; she died shortly after giving birth to a daughter. Ewen came into one half of his father-in-law's property. Peter Buchan found a matching stanza in an old ballad. It was arranged as a glee, for three voices, by William Knyvett.