Robert Burns
Born January 25, 1759, Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland
Died July 21, 1796, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire.
National poet of Scotland, who
wrote lyrics and songs in Scots and in English. He was also famous
for his amours and his rebellion against orthodox religion
and morality.
The family tried to earn money for a living at farming
but spent most of their time in poverty. Burns wrote
his first poems as a young man on the farm. His first
effort at verse was inspired by his affection for a
young woman. This passion of Burns (some might say
a weakness) would be a central theme of his life. His
love of women went beyond romantic attraction; he
was an advocate for women's rights at a time when
this position was not popular.
Burns' father died without money, in 1784 leaving
him in charge of the tenant farm. His first child was
born in 1785, the result of an affair with a servant,
Elizabeth Paton. Burns was already involved
romantically at the time with Jean Armour, who born
him twins the next year. They announced themselves
married but her father imposed on Jean to request
an annulment.
Burns took up with Mary Campbell and decided to
leave the country with her for Jamaica, where he hoped
to achieve the success that eluded him in Scotland. To
earn money for the trip he publicated some of his
works in nearby Kilmarnock. The edition "Poems,
Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect" brought him significant
acclaim. The 1786 book was praised by critics and the
public alike.
Burns moved to Edinburgh in 1786 where he mingled
in literary society. However, financial security continued
to elude him. He again tried his hand at farming. His
fame allowed him to overcome the opposition of Jean
Armour's father's and he married Jean that year.
Monetary success again proved hard to find. Burns
relocated to Dumfries in 1791 where he worked as an
excise officer.
Besides his poetry, Burns devoted
considerable time to composing and
collecting traditional Scottish songs. He
collaborated with music archivists and
publishers James Johnson and George
Thomson to compile large editions of
traditonal and new songs. His "Auld Lang
Syne" is still sung across the globe to
celebrate the New Year.
Burns died in Dumfries, in the age of 37 in
1796. His death was attributed to the
effects of rheumatic fever, but some critics
(and he had many) blamed his fondness
for drink as a contributing factor.