Intimation is made of the death yesterday of William McGonagall at his residence, 5 South College Street, Edinburgh. For nearly 30 years the deceased amused the citizens of Dundee, Perth, and Edinburgh by his peculiar verses on topical subjects, and for a time be was in great demand for pseudo dramatic entertainments. Born in Edinburgh of Irish parents, he early removed to Dundee, where he learned the trade of a hand loom weaver. He, however, had a strong desire to appear on the stage, and actually took part in “Macbeth” in Javes Tneatre, Dundee. Subsequently he devoted his talents to “poetry.”
Edinburgh Evening News, 30th September 1902
