Walter Scott was born on August 15, 1771, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He began his literary career as a poet and gained fame with works such as 'The Lady of the Lake.' He later turned to novel writing and published his first novel, 'Waverley,' anonymously in 1814. It was a success, leading him to write a series of books known as the Waverley Novels. He was immensely popular during his lifetime and played a significant role in popularizing Scottish culture. Scott was also a lawyer and had a baronetcy. He died on September 21, 1832, in Abbotsford, Roxburghshire.