| Robert Burns | |
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 Burns by Alexander Nasmyth, 1787 |
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| Occupation | Poet, lyricist, farmer, excise man |
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Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply The Bard) was a poet and a lyricist. Alexander Nasmyth ( 9 September 1758 &ndash 10 April 1840) was a Scottish Portrait and landscape painter Employment is a Contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. For other uses see Bob Ferguson Robert Fergusson ( September 5, 1750 - October 16, 1774) Samuel Taylor Coleridge ( 21 October 1772 &ndash 25 July 1834) was an English Poet, Critic and philosopher John Steinbeck III (February 27 1902—December 20 1968 was one of the best-known and most widely read American writers of the 20th century John Clare ( 13 July 1793 – 20 May 1864) was an English Poet, in his time commonly known as "the Northamptonshire Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1796 ( MDCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. A national poet or national bard is a Poet held by tradition and popular acclaim to represent the identity beliefs and principles of a particular national Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. He is the best-known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a 'light' Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. Scots ( The Scots leid) refers to Anglic varieties derived from early northern Middle English spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern He also wrote in standard English, and in these pieces, his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.
He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death became an important source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. Romanticism is a complex artistic literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of Government that consider individual Liberty to be the most important political goal Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution A cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish Diaspora around the world, celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature. A cultural icon can be an Image, a Symbol, a Logo, Picture, Name, Face, Person, or Building The Sociologist Max Weber defined charismatic authority as "resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity heroism or exemplary character of an individual person Scottish literature is Literature written in Scotland or by Scottish writers.
As well as making original compositions, Burns also collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous ReVision A Journal of Consciousness and Transformation is a Peer-reviewed Interdisciplinary Quarterly journal issued by Heldref Publications His poem (and song) Auld Lang Syne is often sung at Hogmanay (New Year), and Scots Wha Hae served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish Poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song ( Roud # 6294 Hogmanay ( pronounced &mdash with the main stress on the last syllable is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the The New Year is an event that happens when a Culture celebrates the end of one Year and the beginning of the next year Scots Wha Hae ( Scottish Gaelic: Brosnachadh Bhruis) is a Patriotic song of Scotland which served for a long time as an unofficial A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today, include A Red, Red Rose, A Man's A Man for A' That, To a Louse, To a Mouse, The Battle of Sherramuir, and Ae Fond Kiss. A Red Red Rose is a 1794 song in Scots by Robert Burns based on traditional sources The Scots song "Is There For Honest Poverty", by Robert Burns, is more commonly known as "A Man's A Man For A' That", and famous " To A Louse On Seeing One On A Lady's Bonnet At Church " is a 1786 Scots language poem by Robert Burns. "To A Mouse on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With The Plough" is a Scots Poem written by Robert Burns in 1785 and was included in the The Battle of Sherramuir is a song written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns ( January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) about
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Early years
Robert Burns was born two miles (3 km) south of Ayr, in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland, the eldest of the seven children of William Burness (1721-1784) (Robert Burns spelled his surname Burness until 1786), a self-educated tenant farmer from Dunnottar, The Mearns, and Agnes Broun (1732-1820), the daughter of a tenant farmer from Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire. Ayr (Inbhir Àir Mouth of the River Ayr) is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde, in south-west Scotland. Alloway ( Gaelic Allmhaigh aɫ̪avaj is a now extended Village and leafy Suburb of Ayr on the River Doon, in South Ayrshire ( Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Deas, ʃir̴əxg̊ iɲɪɾʲˈaːɾʲ ə d̊ʲes̪ is one of 32 Council areas of Scotland Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Dunnottar Castle is a ruined Medieval Fortress located upon a precipitous rocky headland on the north-east coast of Scotland, about two miles The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns (from A' Mhaoirne meaning 'The Stewartry' was a local government Agnes Broun ( 17 March 1732 - 14 January 1820) the mother of the poet Robert Burns, was born on a farm near Kirkoswald, Kirkoswald is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland.
He was born in a house built by his father (now the Burns Cottage Museum), where he lived until Easter 1766 when he was seven years old. Burns Cottage, the first home of Robert Burns is located in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. William Burness sold the house and took the tenancy of the 70-acre Mount Oliphant farm, southeast of Alloway. Here Burns grew up in poverty and hardship, and the severe manual labour of the farm left its traces in a premature stoop and a weakened constitution. Manual labour (or manual labor) is physical work done with the hands especially in an unskilled job such as fruit and vegetable picking road building or any
He had little regular schooling, and got much of his education from his father, who taught his children reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and history, and also wrote for them A Manual Of Christian Belief. He was also taught by John Murdoch (1747-1824), who opened an 'adventure school' in Alloway in 1763, and taught Latin, French and mathematics to both Robert and his brother Gilbert (1760 - 1827) from 1765 to 1768, until Murdoch left the parish. Scotland has a long history of universal provision of Public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from other parts of the United Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and After a few years of home education Burns was sent to Dalrymple Parish School during the summer of 1772, before returning at harvest time to full time farm labouring until 1773 when he was sent to lodge with Murdoch for three weeks to study grammar, French and Latin.
By the age of 15, Burns was the principal labourer at Mount Oliphant. During the harvest of 1774 he was assisted by Nelly Kilpatrick (1759-1820), who inspired his first attempt at poetry, O, Once I Lov'd A Bonnie Lass. In the summer of 1775 he was sent to finish his education with a tutor at Kirkoswald, where he met Peggy Thomson (b. 1762), to whom he wrote two songs, Now Westlin' Winds and I Dream'd I Lay.
At Whitsun, 1777, William Burness removed his large family from the unfavourable conditions of Mount Oliphant for the 130-acre (0. Whitsun ( Old English for "White Sunday" is the 49th day (seventh Sunday after Easter Sunday. 53 km²) farm at Lochlea, near Tarbolton, where they stayed until Burness's death in 1784. Tarbolton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Meaning of place-name Tarbolton has been suggested as having one of two meanings Subsequently, the family became integrated into the community of Tarbolton. To his father's disapproval Robert joined a country dancing school in 1779, and with Gilbert formed the Tarbolton Bachelor's Club the following year. In 1781 Burns became a Freemason at Lodge St David, Tarbolton. His earliest existing letters date from this time, when he began making romantic overtures to Alison Begbie (b. 1762). In spite of four songs written for her and a suggestion that he was willing to marry her, she rejected him.
In December 1781, Burns moved temporarily to Irvine to learn to become a flax-dresser, but during the New Year celebrations of 1781/1782, the flax shop caught fire and was sufficiently damaged to send him home to Lochlea farm. Irvine ( Gaelic: Irbhinn) is a coastal New town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The New Year is an event that happens when a Culture celebrates the end of one Year and the beginning of the next year
He continued to write poems and songs and began a Commonplace Book in 1783, while his father fought a legal dispute with his landlord. The case went to the Court of Session and Burness was upheld in January 1784, a fortnight before he died. The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland. It is both a Court of first instance and a court of Appeal and sits exclusively Note Please link only to revelant articles per "WPOVERLINK" Robert and Gilbert made an ineffectual struggle to keep on the farm but after its failure, they moved to the farm at Mossgiel, near Mauchline in March, which they maintained with an uphill fight for the next four years. Mauchline (pronounced "Mawkh-linn" Mhacha Linn in Gaelic meaning 'the pool of Macha Rua' is a town in the county of East Ayrshire During the summer of 1784 he came to know a group of girls known collectively as The Belles of Mauchline, one of whom was Jean Armour, the daughter of a stonemason from Mauchline. Jean Armour or Jean Armour Burns ( February 25 1765 - March 26 1834) also known as the Belle of Mauchline was the wife Mauchline (pronounced "Mawkh-linn" Mhacha Linn in Gaelic meaning 'the pool of Macha Rua' is a town in the county of East Ayrshire
His casual love affairs did not endear him to the elders of the local kirk and created for him a reputation for dissoluteness amongst his neighbours. His first illegitimate child, Elizabeth Paton Burns (1785-1817) was born to his mother’s servant, Elizabeth Paton (1760-circa 1799), as he was embarking on a relationship with Jean Armour. She bore him twins in 1786, and although her father initially forbade their marriage, they were eventually married in 1788, and she bore him nine children in total, but only three survived infancy.
During a rift in his relationship with Jean Armour in 1786, and as his propects in farming declined, he began an affair with Mary Campbell (1763-1786), to whom he dedicated the poems The Highland Lassie O, Highland Mary and To Mary in Heaven. Their relationship has been the subject of much conjecture and it has been suggested that they may have married. They planned to emigrate to Jamaica, where Burns intended to work as a bookkeeper on a plantation. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. He was dissuaded by a letter from Thomas Blacklock, and before the plans could be acted upon, Campbell died suddenly of a fever in Greenock. Thomas Blacklock ( November 10, 1721 &ndash July 7, 1791) was a Scottish Poet. That summer, he published the first of his collections of verse, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish dialect, which created a sensation and has been recognised as a significant literary event
Literary career
At the suggestion of his brother, Robert Burns published his poems in the volume, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish dialect, known as the Kilmarnock volume(actually known as The Kilmarnock Edition). The Kilmarnock volume, also known as Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, — printed and issued by John Wilson First proposals were published in April 1786 before the poems were finally published in Kilmarnock in July 1786 and sold for 3 shillings. Brought out by John Wilson, a local printer in Kilmarnock it contained much of his best writing, including The Twa Dogs, Address to the Deil, Hallowe'en, The Cotter's Saturday Night, To a Mouse, and To a Mountain Daisy, many of which had been written at Mossgiel farm. Kilmarnock (Cill Meàrnaig locally known as Killie) is a large Burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44170 Address to the Deil is a poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns. It was written in Mossgiel in 1785 and published in the Kilmarnock volume Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is a Holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. "To A Mouse on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With The Plough" is a Scots Poem written by Robert Burns in 1785 and was included in the " To a Mountain Daisy " is a Scots Poem written by Robert Burns in 1786 The success of the work was immediate and soon he was known across the country.
He was invited to Edinburgh on 14th December 1786 to oversee the preparation of a revised edition, the first Edinburgh edition, by William Creech, which was finally published on 17th April 1787 (within a week of this event, Burns sold his copyright to Creech for 100 guineas). Edinburgh ( ˈɛdɪnb(ərə Dùn Èideann) is the Capital of Scotland and is its second largest city after Glasgow. In Edinburgh, he was received as an equal by the city's brilliant men of letters and was a guest at aristocratic gatherings, where he bore himself with unaffected dignity. Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations Here he encountered, and made a lasting impression on, the 16-year-old Walter Scott, who described him later with great admiration:
| “ | His person was strong and robust; his manners rustic, not clownish, a sort of dignified plainness and simplicity which received part of its effect perhaps from knowledge of his extraordinary talents. Sir Walter Scott 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 &ndash 21 September 1832 was a prolific Scottish Historical novelist and Poet popular throughout His features are presented in Mr Nasmyth's picture but to me it conveys the idea that they are diminished, as if seen in perspective. I think his countenance was more massive than it looks in any of the portraits . . . there was a strong expression of shrewdness in all his lineaments; the eye alone, I think, indicated the poetical character and temperament. It was large, and of a dark cast, and literally glowed when he spoke with feeling or interest. I never saw such another eye in a human head, though I have seen the most distinguished men of my time. | „ |
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His stay in the city resulted in some life-long friendships, among which were those with Lord Glencairn and Frances Anna Dunlop (1730 - 1815) who became his occasional sponsor, and with whom he corresponded for the rest of his life. James Cunningham 14th Earl of Glencairn & Lord Kilmaurs,(1749&ndash January 30, 1791) was a Scottish nobleman and a Representative He embarked on a relationship with the separated Agnes 'Nancy' McLehose (1758-1841), with whom he exchanged passionate letters under pseudonyms (Burns called himself 'Sylvander', and Nancy 'Clarinda'). When it became clear that Nancy would not be easily seduced into a physical relationship, Burns moved on to Jenny Clow (1766-1792), Nancy's domestic servant, who bore him a son, Robert Burns Clow in 1788. His relationship with Nancy concluded in 1791 with a final meeting in Edinburgh before she sailed to Jamaica for what transpired to be a short-lived reconciliation with her estranged husband. Before she left, he sent her the manuscript of Ae Fond Kiss, as a farewell to her.
In Edinburgh in winter 1787 he met James Johnson, a struggling music engraver and music seller, with a love of old Scots songs and a determination to preserve them. Burns shared this interest and became an enthusiastic contributor to The Scots Musical Museum. The Scots Musical Museum was a major publication that had a pivotal role in the collecting and tradition of Music of Scotland. The first volume of this was published in 1787 and included three songs by Burns. He contributed 40 songs to volume 2, and would end up responsible for about a third of the 600 songs in the whole collection as well as making a considerable editorial contribution. The final volume was published in 1803.
On his return to Ayrshire on 18th February 1788, he resumed his relationship with Jean Armour and took a lease on the farm of Ellisland near Dumfries on 18th March (settling there on 11th June), but trained as an exciseman should farming continue to prove unsuccessful. Dumfries (dəmˈfriːs is a town and former Royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland and is situated close to the Excise or Excise tax (sometimes called an excise duty) is a type of Tax charged on goods produced within the country (as opposed to Customs duties He was appointed duties in Customs and Excise in 1789 and eventually gave up the farm in 1791. Meanwhile, he was writing at his best, and in November 1790 had produced Tam O' Shanter. Tam o' Shanter is considered to be one of Robert Burns' finest poems About this time he was offered and declined an appointment in London on the staff of the Star newspaper, and refused to become a candidate for a newly-created Chair of Agriculture in the University of Edinburgh, although influential friends offered to support his claims. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Star was a London evening newspaper founded in 1788.The first edition was printed on 3 May 1788 under the editorship of one Peter Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. After giving up his farm he removed to Dumfries.
It was at this time that, being requested to write lyrics for The Melodies of Scotland, he responded by contributing over 100 songs. He made major contributions to George Thomson's A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice as well as to James Johnson's The Scots Musical Museum. George Thomson (1757&ndash1851 born at Limekilns, Fife, Scotland, was a noted collector of the Music of Scotland and a friend of Arguably his claim to immortality chiefly rests on these volumes which placed him in the front rank of lyric poets. Lyric poetry refers to a usually short poem that expresses personal feelings which may or may not be set to music Burns described how he had to master singing the tune before he composed the words:
| “ | My way is: I consider the poetic sentiment, correspondent to my idea of the musical expression, then chuse my theme, begin one stanza, when that is composed - which is generally the most difficult part of the business - I walk out, sit down now and then, look out for objects in nature around me that are in unison or harmony with the cogitations of my fancy and workings of my bosom, humming every now and then the air with the verses I have framed. when I feel my Muse beginning to jade, I retire to the solitary fireside of my study, and there commit my effusions to paper, swinging, at intervals, on the hind-legs of my elbow chair, by way of calling forth my own critical strictures, as my, pen goes. | „ |
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—Robert Burns |
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Burns also worked to collect and preserve Scottish folk songs, sometimes revising, expanding, and adapting them. One of the better known of these collections is The Merry Muses of Caledonia (the title is not Burns's), a collection of bawdy lyrics that were popular in the music halls of Scotland as late as the 20th century. Music hall is a form of British theatrical Entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960 Many of Burns's most famous poems are songs with the music based upon older traditional songs. For example, Auld Lang Syne is set to the traditional tune Can Ye Labour Lea, A Red, Red Rose is set to the tune of Major Graham and The Battle of Sherramuir is set to the Cameronian Rant. "Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish Poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song ( Roud # 6294 A Red Red Rose is a 1794 song in Scots by Robert Burns based on traditional sources The Battle of Sherramuir is a song written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns ( January 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796) about
Literary style
His direct literary influences in the use of Scots in poetry were Allan Ramsay (1686-1758) and Robert Fergusson. Allan Ramsay (15 October 1686—7 January 1758 was a Scottish Poet. For other uses see Bob Ferguson Robert Fergusson ( September 5, 1750 - October 16, 1774) Burns's poetry also drew upon a substantial familiarity and knowledge of Classical, Biblical, and English literature, as well as the Scottish Makar tradition. "Classical literature" redirects here For literature in Classical languages outside the Graeco-Roman sphere see Ancient literature. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin The term English literature refers to Literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by Writers not necessarily from A makar is a term from Scottish literature for a Poet or Bard, often thought of as royal court poet although the term can be more generally Burns was skilled in writing not only in the Scots language but also in the Scottish English dialect of the English language. Scots ( The Scots leid) refers to Anglic varieties derived from early northern Middle English spoken in parts of Scotland and Northern Scottish English is the variety of English spoken in Scotland, also called Scottish Standard English. A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Some of his works, such as Love and Liberty (also known as The Jolly Beggars), are written in both Scots and English for various effects.
His themes included republicanism (he lived during the French Revolutionary period) and Radicalism which he expressed covertly in Scots Wha Hae, Scottish patriotism, anticlericalism, class inequalities, gender roles, commentary on the Scottish Kirk of his time, Scottish cultural identity, poverty, sexuality, and the beneficial aspects of popular socialising (carousing, Scotch whisky, folk songs, and so forth). Republicanism is the Ideology of governing a nation as a Republic, with an emphasis on Liberty, Rule of law, Popular sovereignty The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an For opposition to all forms of government social hierarchy or authority see Anarchism. Scots Wha Hae ( Scottish Gaelic: Brosnachadh Bhruis) is a Patriotic song of Scotland which served for a long time as an unofficial Scottish national identity is a term referring to the sense of national identity and common culture of Scottish people and is shared by a considerable majority Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes Religious (generally Catholic institutional power and influence real or alleged in all aspects of public and political Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions (or stratification) between individuals or groups in Societies or Cultures. A gender role is defined as a set of perceived behavioural norms associated particularly with Males or Females in a given social group or system The Church of Scotland (Eaglais na h-Alba known informally by its Scots language name The Kirk, is the National church of Scotland. Scottish national identity is a term referring to the sense of national identity and common culture of Scottish people and is shared by a considerable majority Poverty (also called penury) is deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life including food clothing shelter and safe Drinking water, and Generally speaking human sexuality is how people experience and express themselves as sexual beings Scotch whisky is Whisky made in Scotland. In Britain the term whisky is usually taken to mean Scotch unless otherwise specified Burns and his works were a source of inspiration to the pioneers of liberalism, socialism and the campaign for Scottish self-government, and he is still widely respected by political activists today, ironically even by conservatives and establishment figures because after his death Burns became drawn into the very fabric of Scotland's national identity. Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of Government that consider individual Liberty to be the most important political goal Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favour Tradition, where tradition refers to various religious cultural or nationally defined Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. A nation is a Human Cultural and Social Community. In as much as most members never meet each other yet feel a common bond it may be considered It is this, perhaps unique, ability to appeal to all strands of political opinion in the country that have led him to be widely acclaimed as the national poet. A national poet or national bard is a Poet held by tradition and popular acclaim to represent the identity beliefs and principles of a particular national
Burns's views on these themes in many ways parallel those of William Blake, but it is believed that, although contemporaries, they were unaware of each other. William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827 was an English poet, painter, and Printmaker. Burns's works are less overtly mystical. Mysticism (from the Greek grc μυστικός mystikos, an initiate of a Mystery religion) is the pursuit of communion with identity
He is generally classified as a proto-Romantic poet, and he influenced William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Percy Bysshe Shelley greatly. Romanticism largely began as a reaction against the prevailing Enlightenment ideals of the day Samuel Taylor Coleridge ( 21 October 1772 &ndash 25 July 1834) was an English Poet, Critic and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley (August 4 1792 – July 8 1822 ˈpɝːsɪ ˈbɪʃ ˈʃɛlɪ was one of the major English Romantic poets and is widely considered to be among The Edinburgh literati worked to sentimentalise Burns during his life and after his death, dismissing his education by calling him a "heaven-taught ploughman. An intellectual (from the adjective meaning "involving thought and reason" is a person who tries to use his or her Intelligence and analytical thinking, Heaven may refer to the physical heavens the sky or the seemingly endless expanse of the Universe beyond The plough ( American spelling plow; both plaʊ is a Tool used in Farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed " Burns would influence later Scottish writers, especially Hugh MacDiarmid who fought to dismantle the sentimental cult that had dominated Scottish literature in MacDiarmid's opinion. Hugh MacDiarmid is the pen name of Christopher Murray Grieve (Crìsdean Mac a' Ghreidhir (11 August 1892 Langholm - 9 September 1978 Edinburgh Scottish literature is Literature written in Scotland or by Scottish writers.
Masonic association
Robert Burns was initiated into Lodge St David Tarbolton on 4 July 1781, when he was 22. Canberra ( is the capital city of Australia With a population of over 340000 it is Australia's largest inland City. } The Australian Capital Territory (ACT is the Capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and its smallest self-governing internal territory Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 1781 ( MDCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He was passed and raised on 1 October 1781. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1781 ( MDCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Later his lodge became dormant and Burns joined Lodge St James Tarbolton Kilwinning number 135. The location of the Temple where he was made a Freemason is unknown but on 30 June 1784 the meeting place of the lodge became the “Manson Inn” in Tarbolton and one month later, 27 July 1784 Burns became Depute Master which he held until 1788, often honoured with supreme command. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1784 ( MDCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Tarbolton is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Meaning of place-name Tarbolton has been suggested as having one of two meanings Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 1784 ( MDCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year
Although regularly meeting in Tarbolton, the “Burns Lodge” also removed itself to hold meetings in Mauchline. Mauchline (pronounced "Mawkh-linn" Mhacha Linn in Gaelic meaning 'the pool of Macha Rua' is a town in the county of East Ayrshire During 1784 he was heavily involved in Lodge business, attending all nine meetings, passing and raising brethren and generally running the Lodge. Similarly in 1785 he was equally involved as Depute Master where he again attended all nine lodge meetings amongst other duties of the Lodge. During 1785 he initiated, and passed his brother Gilbert being raised on 1 March 1788. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap He must have been a very popular and well respected Depute Master, as the minutes show that there were more lodge meetings well attended during the Burns period than at any other time.
At a meeting of Lodge St. Andrew in Edinburgh in 1787, in the presence of the Grand Master and Grand Lodge of Scotland, Burns was toasted by the Worshipful Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Francis Chateris. When he was received into Edinburgh Lodges his occupation was recorded as a “poet”. In early 1787, he was feted by the Edinburgh Masonic fraternity. The Edinburgh period of Burns life was fateful as further editions the Kilmarnock edition were sponsored by the Edinburgh Freemasons, ensuring that his name spread around Scotland and subsequently to England and abroad.
During his tour of the South of Scotland as he was collecting material for The Scots Musical Museum, he visited lodges throughout Ayrshire, and became an honorary member of a number of them. On 18 May 1787 he arrived at Eyemouth, Berwickshire and a meeting was convened of Royal Arch and Burns became a Royal Arch Mason. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 1787 ( MDCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common On his return journey home to Ayrshire as he passed through Dumfries, where he later lived and is the site of the Globe Inn, which he described as his "favourite howff"(or "inn")which is still in use as an inn and where his accommodations can be visited by arrangement. His final resting place, the Burns Mausoleum, is also in Dumfries at St. Michaels Kirk. He was posthumously given the freedom of the town.
On 25 July 1787, after being re-elected Depute Master he presided at a meeting where several well-known Masons were given honorary membership. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1787 ( MDCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common During his Highland tour he visited many other lodges. During the period from his election as Depute Master in 1784, Lodge St James had been convened 70 times. Burns was present 33 times and was 25 times the presiding officer. On 11 November 1788 was his last meeting at his mother lodge St James Kilwinning. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap
He joined Lodge Dumfries St Andrew Number 179 on 27 December 1788. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap Out of the six Lodges in Dumfries, he joined the one which was the weakest. The records of this lodge are scant, and we hear no more of him until 30 November 1792, when Burns was elected Senior Warden. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year From this date until his final meeting in the Lodge on 14 April 1796, it appears that the Lodge met only five times. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Year 1796 ( MDCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year There are no records of Burns visiting any other Lodges.
Final years
As his health began to give way Burns began to age prematurely and fell into fits of despondency. The habits of intemperance [alleged mainly by temperance activist James Currie, are said to have] aggravated his long-standing rheumatic heart condition. [In fact his death was caused by the bacterial endocarditis exacerbated by a streptococcal infection reaching his blood following a dental extraction in winter 1795, and no doubt further affected by the three months of famine culminating in the Dumfries Food Riots of March 1796] and on July 21, 1796 he died in Dumfries at the age of 37. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1796 ( MDCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The funeral took place on 25th July 1796, the day his son Maxwell was born. A memorial edition of his poems was published to raise money for his wife and children, and within a short time of his death, money started pouring in from all over Scotland to support them.
Honours
There are many organizations around the world named after Burns, as well as a large number of statues and memorials. A statue is a Sculpture in the round representing a person or persons an animal or an event normally full-length as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size A memorial is an object which serves as a memory of something usually a person (who has died or an event Organisations include the Robert Burns Fellowship of the University of Otago, and Burns Club Atlanta in the United States. The Robert Burns Fellowship, established in 1958 as a bicentennial celebration is claimed to be New Zealand's premier literary residency. The University of Otago ( Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo) in Dunedin is New Zealand 's oldest university with over 20000 students enrolled during The Burns Club of Atlanta was founded in 1896 and is housed in an exact replica of Robert Burns ' home The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Towns named after Robert Burns include Burns, New York and Burns, Oregon. Burns is a Town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1248 at the 2000 census Burns is a city in and county seat of Harney County, Oregon, United States.
The British Royal Mail issued postage stamps commemorating Burns twice: two stamps, valued at fourpence and 1 shilling and threepence, both carrying Burns's portrait were issued in 1966. A postage stamp is an adhesive paper evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services A second issue commemorating the bicentenary of his death in 1996 contained four stamps valued at 19 pence, 25 pence, 41 pence and 60 pence, and included quotes from Burns's poems. Robert Burns is pictured on the £5 banknote (since 1971) of the Clydesdale Bank, one of the Scottish banks with the right to issue banknotes. On the reverse of the note there is a vignette of a field mouse and a wild rose which refers to Burns's poem "Ode to a mouse". In September 2007, the Bank of Scotland redesigned their banknotes and Robert Burn's statue is now portrayed on the reverse side of new £5. He is known as Scotland's national bard, or in Scotland, simply The Bard, and has a number of affectionate nicknames. [1][2]
A BR standard class 7 steam locomotive was named after him, along with a later electric locomotive, 87035. The BR Standard Class 7, otherwise known as the Britannia Class, is a class of 4-6-2 ''Pacific'' Steam locomotive designed by Robert The British Rail Class 87 is a type of Electric locomotive built from 1973-75 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL. Burns' birthplace in Alloway is now a public museum. In 1996, a musical by the name Red Red Rose won third place at a competition for new musicals in Denmark. The musical was about Burns' life and he was played by John Barrowman. John Scot Barrowman (b 11 March 1967 is a Scottish Actor, musical performer, Dancer, Singer and Television presenter
In the suburb of Summerhill in Dumfries the majority of the streets are named with Burns connotations. Summerhill in Dumfries is a post war residential suburb on the West side of the town
Burns suppers
Burns Night, effectively a second national day, is celebrated on 25 January with Burns suppers around the world, and is still more widely observed than the official national day, Saint Andrew's Day, or the proposed North American celebration Tartan Day. A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and Poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems including " Auld Lang Syne," The National Day is a designated date on which celebrations mark the Nationhood of a Nation or non-sovereign Country. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and Poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems including " Auld Lang Syne," "The world " is a proper noun for the planet Earth envisioned from an Anthropocentric or Human Worldview, as a place Tartan Day (part of Scotland Week) celebrates the existing and historical links between Scotland and Scottish descendants in North America The format of Burns suppers has not changed since Robert's death in 1796. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements followed with the Selkirk Grace. Selkirk, a town and former Royal burgh in the Scottish Borders, lies on the River Ettrick, a tributary of the River Tweed. Just post the grace comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, where Robert's famous Address To a Haggis is read, and the haggis is cut open. Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish There are many recipes most of which have in common the following ingredients Sheep 's ' pluck ' ( Heart A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and Poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems including " Auld Lang Syne," The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. This is when the reading called the "immortal memory", an overview of Robert's life and work is given; the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Andrew O'Hagan, "The People's Poet", The Guardian, January 19, 2008. Eddi Reader MBE (born Sadenia Reader 29 August 1959) is a Scottish Singer, known both for her work with Fairground Attraction Of Mice and Men is a Novella written by Nobel Prize -winning author John Steinbeck. This a list of memorials to the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Scotland Burns National Memorial Mauchline, Ayrshire - Photo
- ^ http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/01/24104549
References
- Robert Burns, The Canongate Burns: The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns, ed. Andrew Noble and Patrick Scott Hogg (2001; Edinburgh: Canongate, 2003). ISBN 1-84195-380-6
- This article incorporates public domain text from: Cousin, John William (1910). The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature is a collection of biographies of writers by John William Cousin (1849-1910 published in 1910 London, J. M. Dent & sons; New York, E. P. Dutton. (p.57)
- Dietrich Hohmann: Ich, Robert Burns, Biographical Novel, Neues Leben, Berlin 1990 (in German)
External links
- Official site of Burns Cottage Museum
- National Burns Collection (Scottish national archive of Burns-related portraits, manuscripts and objects)
- Modern online collection of Burns images and artefacts
- Scottish government produced Burns mini site
- Works by Robert Burns at Project Gutenberg
- Robert Burns Encyclopedia: A-Z companion to Burns life and times
- Podcasts on Itunes in which some of Robert Burns' greatest poems are read by Tadhg McKenna.
- National Library of Scotland's Burns site
- "The Illustrated History of the Family, Friends and Contemporaries of Robert Burns" by Colin Hunter McQueen
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Burns, Robert |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Scottish poet and lyricist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 25, 1759 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 21, 1796 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Dumfries, Scotland |
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