ROBERT BURNSIngrid Kauler, 11 B

ROBERT BURNS 1759-1796 Was born into a

farming family Alloway in Ayrshire Died in Dumfries at

the early age of 37 Took the Scottish

literary world by storm

Secured a place for himself in history and in legend The best-known portrait of Burns

ALSO KNOWN AS: Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite

son, The Ploughman

Poet, Robden of Solway

Firth, The Bard of Ayrshire In Scotland as

simply The BardThe statue of Robert Burns erected by Clement Wilson

at Eglinton Country Park, North Ayrshire

FAMILY BACKGROUND William Burnes - the

poet's father – was a gardener

He married Agnes Brown

Their eldest child, Robert, was born on 25 January 1759

Burns Cottage in Alloway, Scotland

THE EARLY YEARS Burns spent his first seven

years at Alloway Mount Oliphant farm In 1777 the family moved

to Lochlea farm He attended a local school When he was about 15 he

first turned his hand to poetry

Became a freemason of St David's Lodge, Tarbolton, in 1781. Inside the Burns Cottage Museum in Alloway

EARLY MANHOOD Remained at Lochlea until

his father's death in 1784 The family moved to

Mossgiel farm The years 1784 to 1785

were one of Burns's most prolific periods

He wrote such well-known poems as 'Holy Willie's Prayer', 'To A Mouse', 'The Jolly Beggars'and 'The Holy Fair'

The poet's introduction to 'Holy Willie's Prayer

ROBERT BURNS Burns had farming and personal

difficulties Mossgiel was not profitable Jean Armour Wanted to emigrate and sail for

Jamaica Gavin Hamilton - a local lawyer Financing the voyage The 'Kilmarnock edition' Printed by John Wilson of

Kilmarnock in July 1786 Burns's Poems, chiefly in the

Scottish dialect Cost three shillings 612 copies sold out within a

month

EDINBURGH For the next 18 months

he stayed frequently in Edinburgh

Mrs Agnes McLehose Pseudonyms 'Clarinda'

and 'Sylvander' One of the most famous

examples of stylised romantic letter-writing

Ae fond kiss, 1791

Engraving of Clarinda

TRAVELS AND MUSIC May 1787 the Borders and central Scotland

and the Highlands In 1787 - became involved in a

project James Johnson Began to collect and publish the

words and music of all Scottish songs.

The Scots Musical Museum in 1787

Six volumes of 100 songs each. George Thomson in publishing 'classical' arrangements of

Scottish folk-songs A Select Collection of Original

Scottish Airs was issued in 1793.

TAM O’SHANTER One of the greatest narrative poems in the

language, Captain Grose's drawing of Alloway Kirk in

his collection Antiquities of Scotland Folklore of witchcraft which he learned from

his childhood nurse, Betty Davidson

'Warlocks and witches in a dance;Nae cotillion brent new frae France,But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels,Put life and mettle in their heels.A winnock-bunker in the east,There sat auld Nick, in shape o' beast;A towzie tyke, black, grim and large,To gie them music was his charge:He screw'd the pipes and gart them skirl,Till roof and rafters a' did dirl.'

FINAL YEARS Spent the final years of

his life in Dumfriesshire Farm at Ellisland Failing health Overshadowed his literary

and musical output Long-standing heart

condition Premature death at the

age of 37 on 21 July 1796. Youngest son Maxwell

Ellisland farm in the time of Robert Burns

LEGACY J. S. Blackie summed up

Burns's importance to Scotland and the Scots with the words:

'When Scotland forgets Burns, then history will forget Scotland.'

The fruits of his legacy can be seen not only in Scotland but around the world - on product packaging, in advertising and on a wealth of merchandise, as well as through continued scholarship and academic study. Robert Burns Mausoleum at

St. Michael's churchyard in Dumfries

ROBERT BURNS

Monument in Tallinn, The Scottish Club Burns by Alexander Nasmyth, 1787

SOURCES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Robert_Burns http://www.robertburns.org/works/ http://digital.nls.uk/burns/index.htm http://www.electricscotland.com/

burns/burns_youth.htm http://www.robertburns.org.uk/ http://www.tiiukirsipuu.com/tells/

Robert.htm

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