Robert Gilfillan was a poet and songwriter, born at Dunfermline, Scotland, and latterly a collector of the police rates at Leith. He wrote a number of Scottish songs, and was favourably mentioned in Noctes Ambrosianae. He was the author of the beautiful song, Oh, why left I my Hame?.
He published a 150-page book of songs in 1831, which garnered sufficient acclaim to spur publication of a longer version in 1835, and another in 1839.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : Cousin, John William. A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London, J. M. Dent & Sons; New York, E. P. Dutton.