About Samuel Cowan
Lived 1835 – 1914 (aged 78–79). Samuel Cowan was a British writer.
Samuel Cowan (1835 – 18 June 1914) was a Scottish historian, antiquarian, biographer, publisher and journalist who wrote several books, including Mary Queen of Scots and Who Wrote the Casket Letters, The Gowrie Conspiracy (1902), The Ancient Capital of Scotland (1904) and The Royal House of Stuart (1908).
Cowan was also a justice of the peace.
Between 1866 and 1907, Cowan was the printer and publisher of the Perthshire Advertiser.
Personal life His father was James Cowan, registrar of Monkton and Prestwick.
In 1864, Cowan married Jane Jack, of Largs, with whom he had one son and two daughters. At the time of his death, the family was living at 33 Fountainhall Road in Edinburgh.
Cowan was a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
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Important facts
People in Samuel Cowan's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Samuel Cowan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Samuel Cowan?
Scottish historian 1835-1914
When was Samuel Cowan born?
Samuel Cowan was born in 1835.
When did Samuel Cowan die?
Samuel Cowan died in 1914.
What was Samuel Cowan's occupation?
Samuel Cowan was a writer.
What nationality was Samuel Cowan?
Samuel Cowan was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Samuel Cowan (historian)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Samuel Cowan. https://biography.guide/samuel-cowan-writer/
MLA: "Samuel Cowan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/samuel-cowan-writer/.
Chicago: "Samuel Cowan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/samuel-cowan-writer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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