Biography - Robert Burns

Robert Burns

              Robert Burns is a poet. He is one of the most famous characters in the history of Scotland’s culture. He is also famous as a pioneer of the Romantic movement. Born on January 25, 1759, in Alloway, Scotland, Robert Burns is the son of a farmer. After some basic education, Robert's parents encouraged him to read books by important contemporary writers as well as Shakespeare and Milton. Since he was a child, Robert Burns worked on the farm. when he gets bored working he writes poetry. When his father died in 1784, he went bankrupt. 

              In 1784 to 1788, Robert Burns was involved in simultaneous illicit relations which produced several illegitimate children. In 1785, he became the father of his first child, Elizabeth, who was born out of wedlock with his mother's servant, Elizabeth Paton, while at the same time he seduced other women as well. In the midst of household chaos in the life of Robert Burns, in July 1786, he published his first poem. Critics praised this work. With this sudden success, Burns decided to stay in Scotland, and in November he left for Edinburgh to enjoy glory. While in Edinburgh, Robert Burns made many close friends including Agnes "Nancy" McLehose, with whom he exchanged passionate letters, but was unable to complete the relationship. 

              Out of frustration, he began to seduce his servant, Jenny Clow, who gave birth to a son for him. Turning to business, Burns became friends with James Johnson, a novice music publisher, who asked him to help. The result is The Scots Musical Museum, a collection of traditional Scottish music. Bored with city life, Burns settled on a farm in Ellisland in the summer of 1788 and eventually married Jean Amour. The couple will eventually have nine children, only three surviving. However, in 1791, Robert Burns stopped farming forever and moved his family to the nearby town of Dumfries. There he accepted the position of customs officer and continued to write and collect traditional Scottish songs. In that year he published "Tam O'Shanter," an autobiographical story about a farmer who is not very healthy, who is now considered a masterpiece of narrative poetry. 

               In 1793 he later contributed to the publisher of the Collection of Native Scottish Choices for Sound by George Thomson. This work and The Scots Musical Museum formed most of Burns poetry and folk songs, including the famous works "Auld Lang Syne," "A Red, Red Rose" and "The Battle of Sherramuir." On the morning of July 21, 1796, Robert Burns died in Dumfries at age 37. The funeral took place on July 25, the same day his son Maxwell was born. A memorial edition of his poems was published to raise money for his wife and children.

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