[1] Giving up a plan to enter the church, Irving for a time studied law, but then began to write.In 1808 the University of Aberdeen conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D, and in the same year he was candidate for a Chair of Classics in Belfast, but withdrew before the election.He retired, built up a private library of about 7,000 volumes, and died at Meadow Place, Edinburgh, on 11 May 1860.[1] In 1799 Irving published a Life of Robert Fergusson, with a Critique on his Works (dedicated to Anderson).[1] He is buried with his wife Janet, against the east wall of Grange Cemetery in Edinburgh, near the main entrance.