John Graham Dalyell

Sir John Graham Dalyell (August 1775 – 7 June 1851) was a Scottish advocate, antiquary and naturalist

The second son of Sir Robert Dalyell, fourth baronet, who died in 1791, by Elizabeth, only daughter of Nicol Graham of Gartmore, Perthshire, was born at Binns, Linlithgowshire, in August 1775. When an infant he fell from a table upon a stone floor and became lame for life. He attended classes first at St. Andrews, and secondly at the University of Edinburgh, and while there qualified himself for the Scotch bar, and became a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1796. The work in the parliament-house proved to be too fatiguing for him, but he acquired a considerable business as a consulting advocate, and although a younger son and not wealthy he made it a rule of his legal practice not to accept a fee from a relative, a widow, or an orphan. In 1797 he was elected a member of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and was chosen the first vice-president of that society; he also became a member of the Society of Arts for Scotland, and served as president 1839-40.

Devoting himself to letters with an enthusiasm which animated him to the last, he soon turned his attention to the manuscript treasures of the Advocates' Library, and in 1798 produced his first work, Fragments of Scottish History, which contained, among other matter of interest, The Diary of Robert Birrell, burgess of Edinburgh from 1532 to 1608. This was followed in 1801 by Scottish Poems of the Sixteenth Century, in 2 vols. In the preface to this work the author says that in the course of his preparatory researches he had examined about seven hundred volumes of manuscripts. In addition to his knowledge of antiquarian lore he had also an extensive acquaintance with natural history, and in 1814 gave to the public his very valuable Observations on several Species of Planariæ, illustrated by coloured figures of living animals.

In 1832/3, "John G. Dalyell, advocate" is listed as residing at 54 Hanover Street in Edinburgh's New Town.

On 22 August 1836 he was created a knight by letters patent, and on 1 February 1841 succeeded his brother, Sir James Dalyell, as sixth baronet of Binns. Rare and Remarkable Animals of Scotland, with practical observations on their nature, he finished in 2 vols, in 1847. The publication of this beautifully engraved work was unfortunately delayed for nearly five years, owing to a dispute and a law process with the engraver, and the delay deprived Dalyell of the full credit of several of his discoveries in connection with medusae.

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