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Born
in Alloway, Ayrshire, in 1759 to William Burness, a poor
tenant farmer, and Agnes Broun, Robert Burns was the eldest of
seven. He spent his youth working his father's farm, but in
spite of his poverty he was extremely well read - at the
insistence of his father, who employed a tutor for Robert and
younger brother Gilbert. At 15 Robert was the principal worker
on the farm and this prompted him to start writing in an
attempt to find "some kind of counterpoise for his
circumstances." It was at this tender age that Burns
penned his first verse, "My Handsome Nell", which
was an ode to the other subjects that dominated his life,
namely scotch and women.
When
his father died in 1784, Robert and his brother became
partners in the farm. However, Robert was more interested in
the romantic nature of poetry than the arduous graft of
ploughing and, having had some misadventures with the ladies
(resulting in several illegitimate children, including twins
to the woman who would become his wife, Jean Armour), he
planned to escape to the safer, sunnier climes of the West
Indies.
However,
at the point of abandoning farming, his first collection
"Poems- Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect - Kilmarnock
Edition" (a set of poems essentially based on a broken
love affair), was published and received much critical
acclaim. This, together with pride of parenthood, made him
stay in Scotland. He moved around the country, eventually
arriving in Edinburgh, where he mingled in the illustrious
circles of the artists and writers who were agog at the
"Ploughman Poet."
In
a matter of weeks he was transformed from local hero to a
national celebrity, fussed over by the Edinburgh literati of
the day, and Jean Armour's father allowed her to marry him,
now that he was no longer a lowly wordsmith. Alas, the
trappings of fame did not bring fortune and he took up a job
as an exciseman to supplement the meagre income. Whilst
collecting taxes he continued to write, contributing songs to
the likes of James Johnston's "Scot's Musical
Museum" and George Thomson's "Select Collection of
Original Scottish Airs." In all, more than 400 of Burns'
songs are still in existence.
The
last years of Burns' life were devoted to penning great poetic
masterpieces such as The Lea Rig, Tam O'Shanter and a Red, Red
Rose. He died aged 37 of heart disease exacerbated by the hard
manual work he undertook when he was young. His death occurred
on the same day as his wife Jean gave birth to his last son,
Maxwell.
On
the day of his burial more than 10,000 people came to watch
and pay their respects. However, his popularity then was
nothing compared to the heights it has reached since.
On
the anniversary of his birth, Scots both at home and abroad
celebrate Robert Burns with a supper, where they address the
haggis, the ladies and whisky. A celebration which would
undoubtedly make him proud.
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