Peter John Allan
1825-1848
Peter John Allan was born 6 June 1825 in York, England. His family to Canada when his father was posted to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Allan’s father retired in 1836, after which his family moved to Fredericton, New Brunswick. Allan attended King’s College for a brief period but left before attaining his degree. He began to publish poetry in local newspapers and weekly journals, such as the New Brunswick Reporter and Fredericton Advertiser. Allan sent his manuscript of poems to England for publication. Shortly afterwards he developed a fever and died on 21 October 1848 at the age of 23. His brother, J. M’Grigor Allan wrote a biography of Peter Allan, publishing it along with Allan’s poems in London in the summer of 1853. It was entitled the Poetical Remains of Peter John Allan, Esq. (1853) and edited by Henry Christmas.
Mokler, Katelyn. "Peter John Allen." New Brunswick Literary Encyclopedia, Winter 2009.
Predominant New Brunswick Residences:
Fredericton
Excerpt from “The Dead Butterfly,” Peter John Allan
"Peter John Allen." New Brunswick Literary Encyclopedia, Winter 2009.
See the New Brunswick Literary Encyclopedia entry.