The Life of Robert Burns
Robert Burns is widely regarded as Scotland’s national poet. His words capture the spirit of the nation - its people, its landscape and its struggles. He lived a brief life but left a lasting mark on Scottish culture. People still celebrate his work today, especially on Burns Night, when people across the world gather to recite his poetry and raise a dram in his honour.
Early Life and education
Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Ayrshire on the 25th January 1759 in a cottage - now a museum looked after by the National Trust, containing an important collection of his works and artefacts - built by his father, William.
Robert was the eldest of seven children and worked alongside his brothers on his father's farm. The physical labour was tough, and by his teenage years, he had taken on many responsibilities. The work was relentless, and the farm struggled financially.
But despite being from a poor family, he and his brother Gilbert were lucky enough to receive an education thanks to his father’s efforts. William taught them many subjects, as well as arranging for a young teacher, John Murdoch, to tutor them. Murdoch taught them French and English grammar, and introduced them to the joys of literature; he gifted Robert the works of Alexander Pope, who Burns referenced and quoted frequently in his writing.
Aged 15 Robert began writing poetry. Inspired by Scottish folk traditions and poets such as Allan Ramsay and Robert Fergusson, his work captured the lives of ordinary people.
He wrote about farmers, workers, and common folk, as well as celebrating Scotland's landscapes, from its rolling hills to flowing rivers. Arguably the most famous poet to have written in the Scots language, Burns also wrote in English, blending the two to create a distinctive voice.
After the death of his father in 1784, Robert and his brother took over the farm, but Burns had no plans to stick around. The farm was failing, and he considered leaving Scotland for Jamaica to work as a bookkeeper.
The poet emerges
Burns was on the point of abandoning farm life in Scotland when his first collection of poetry, "Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect - Kilmarnock Edition" was published. The collection was a success: his fame grew, and he abandoned his plans to emigrate.
He travelled to Edinburgh in 1786, where he was welcomed into literary circles. His poetry had impressed the city’s elite, and he became a sought-after guest at gatherings. In 1787, an Edinburgh edition of Poems Chiefly in the Scottish dialect was published, containing 22 additional poems.
It was in Edinburgh that he met James Johnson, a lover of old Scots songs. It was an interest passionately shared by Burns, and he became a contributor to The Scots Musical Museum, contributing around 250 songs in total over three volumes of works.
Personal life
Burns notably enjoyed the company of women and had many romantic relationships in his brief life. He fathered 12 children with four different women, including nine with his wife Jean Armour. Their relationship was turbulent - Jean’s father disapproved of Burns, and at one point, they were forced apart - but they resumed their relationship on his return from Edinburgh, marrying in 1788 and settling on a farm in Dumfriesshire.
His poetry often reflected his views on love and relationships, and he wrote with honesty about passion, heartache and devotion. Some of his most famous love poems include My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose and Ae Fond Kiss. His ability to express deep emotion in simple language is one reason his work continues to resonate.
Later years and his death
Despite his literary success, Robert Burns was not a wealthy man, and he supplemented his low income as a poet by working as a "gauger" - a member of her majesty's hated Customs & Excise - collecting tax on goods like tobacco and whisky (a link to Arran and its illicit stills of days gone by).
He continued to write poetry, and it was in Dumfries in 1790 that he wrote arguably his most famous poem, Tam o ’Shanter. The poem describes the tales of a farmer who gets drunk in a public house and has a supernatural encounter on his ride home.
Burns collected and preserved hundreds of traditional Scottish songs. He gave new life to old ballads and wrote original verses that became part of Scotland's musical heritage. He wrote lyrics for The Melodies of Scotland and contributed songs to A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice and The Scots Musical Museum. His work helped preserve Scotland's cultural identity during rapid social change.
Burns died in 1796, aged 37. His health had declined due to years of hard labour, financial stress and illness. He was buried in Dumfries, and thousands attended his funeral - the same day that his wife Jean Armour gave birth to his last son, Maxwell.
Burns' Legacy
Although he was not a legend in his own time, Robert Burns left a legacy which has touched Scotland and indeed people in countries all over the world. Dozens of other languages now include translations of his works, and his songs enjoy global popularity.
On his birthday, 25th January, Scots all over the world celebrate with a Burns Supper where they address the haggis, the ladies and, of course, whisky. Such a celebration of his life, work and all the things he loved in life would surely make Robert Burns proud today.
If you’re planning to celebrate your own Burns Night, or just in the mood to toast your own words to the bard, why not lift a dram of one of our Robert Burns whiskies, inspired by the Scottish poet’s connection to Ayrshire and Arran.