Born in Scotland and came to South Africa as a young man. He was a school teacher and quickly learned to speak Dutch fluently. He translated the bible into High Dutch and recorded it by hand. He lived in South Africa in the Free State Province (at the time known as the Orange River Colony) where he later died. Rumour has it that he descends from Sir Walter Scott, but research has thus far failed to confirm this, and at this time the rumour appears to be a romanticisation of his bloodline. Upon his death, his heirs inherited a nearly-penniless estate.