(William), a polite writer, born in Scotland, in 1585, was the son of Sir John Drummond, gentleman-usher to king James VI. He had his education at Edinburgh; and afterwards being sent into France, studied the civil law at Bourges: but his genius leading him to polite literature, he returned to Scotland, and retired to his agreeable seat at Hawthornden. Here he spent his time in reading Greek and Latin authors, and obliged the world with several fine productions. He wrote his Cypris Grove, a piece of excellent prose, after a dangerous fit of sickness; and about this time his Flowers of Sion, in verse. But an accident befell him, which obliged him to quit his retirement; and that was the death of an amiable lady he was just going to be married to. This affected him so deeply, that he went to Paris and Rome, between which two places he resided eight years. He travelled also through Germany, France, and Italy: where he visited universities; conversed with learned men; and made a choice collection of the best ancient Greek, and of the modern Spanish, French, and Italian books. He then returned to his native country, where a civil war was just ready to break out: upon which he retired again, and in this retirement is supposed to have written his History of the five Families, successively kings of Scotland, which was not published till after his death. Besides this, he composed several other tracts against the measures of the covenanters and those engaged in the opposition of Charles I. In a piece called Irene, he harangues the king, nobility, and clergy, about their mutual mistakes, fears, and jealousies: he lays before them the consequences of a civil war, from indisputable arguments and the histories of past times. The great marquis of Montrose wrote a letter to him, desiring him to print this Irene, as the best means to quiet the minds of a distracted people: he likewise sent him a protection dated August 1645, immediately after the battle of Killyth, with a letter, in which he commends Mr Drummond's learning and loyalty. Mr Drummond wrote other things also with the same view of promoting peace and union, of calming the disturbed minds of the people, of reasoning the better fort into moderation, and checking the growing evils which would be the consequence of their obstinacy. He died in the year 1649, having married a wife five years before, by whom he had some children: William, who was knighted in Charles the II's time; Robert; and Elizabeth, who was married to Dr Henderson a physician at Edinburgh. He had a great intimacy and correspondence with the two famous English poets, Michael Drayton and Ben Johnson; the latter of whom travelled from London on foot, to see him at his seat at Hawthornden. His works consisted of several things in verse and prose; an edition of which, with his life prefixed, was printed in folio at Edinburgh, 1711.