Mallet (or Malloch), David (c. 1705–1765)

Scottish poet and miscellaneous writer. He is chiefly remembered for his ballad of ‘William and Margaret’ 1723. He became secretary to the Prince of Wales and at his request wrote, with James Thomson, the masque Alfred 1740, in which the song ‘Rule, Britannia’ first appeared.

Mallet was born in Crieff, Perthshire, and was educated at the University of Edinburgh, where he met Thomson. His Excursion, an imitation of Thomson, was published 1728. On the accession of George III, Mallet became a zealous supporter of Lord Bute and was rewarded with a sinecure. He also wrote some indifferent dramas, including Eurydice 1731, Mustapha 1739, and Elvira 1763.