By Anna White January 06, 2021

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The Life of Robert Burns

When was Robert Burns Born?
Education & Early Career
Love Affairs & Children
Later Career
Robert Burns’ Most Famous Poems
When did Robert Burns die?
Poetry Themes
Robert Burns Legacy

Visit Robert Burns Statues

Ayr, Scotland
Stirling, Scotland
Camperdown, Australia
Vancouver, Canada
Dunedin, New Zealand
New York City, United States of America
Tallinn, Estonia

Burns Night

When is Burns Night?
Burns Night Traditions
Burns Supper Menu
Munro's First Burns Night
Why do Haggis and Burns go together?
Burns Night Whisky

What to Wear for Burns Night?

For the Laddies
For the Lassies
For the Table
Test your Burns Night Knowledge

So what do you know about Scotland's most famous poet Robert Burns? We thought we would tell the story so you can attend your Burns Supper fully informed! We also run through everything you need to know before you attend or host your own Burns night.

The Life of Robert Burns

When was Robert Burns Born?

Robert Burns (aka Rabbie Burns) was born on 25th January 1759. Although he spelled his surname Burness until 1786. He grew up in Ayrshire, in the South West of Scotland, on his father, William’s farm.

Burns Cottage

Education & Early Career

Much of his education was from his father. By the age of 15 Robert was a principle labourer on the farm. During the harvest in 1774, inspiration through his assistant Nelly Kirkpatrick gave way to his first attempt at poetry; O, Once I Lov'd A Bonnie Lass.

Painting of two farm horses and a man ploughing the land by hand

'Burns at the Plough' Image credit: National Trust for Scotland, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum

After struggling in farming he became involved in Freemasonry. He was initiated into Masonic Lodge St David Tarbolton on 4 July 1781 and was passed and raised on 1st October that same year. In early 1787, he was feted by the Edinburgh Masonic fraternity and named the Poet Laureate of the Lodge–a title which has since been accepted by Freemasonry in general. The Edinburgh period of Burns' life was of great consequence, as further editions of the Kilmarnock Edition were sponsored by the Edinburgh Freemasons, ensuring that his name spread around Scotland and subsequently to England and abroad.

Picture of a poster with information for a public meeting

Love Affairs & Children

His first child, Elizabeth Paton Burns, was born in 1785 to his mother's servant, Elizabeth Paton, while he was embarking on a relationship with Jean Armour, who became pregnant with twins in March 1786. Burns was eventually married to Jean Armour in 1788 after many family feuds. She gave birth to nine of his children, although only 3 survived infancy.

Jean Armour

Burns took up a job as a bookkeeper on a slave plantation in Jamaica when he came into financial difficulty looking after his family. It was around this time when he fell in love with Mary Campbell and he dedicated the poems The Highland Lassie O, Highland Mary and To Mary in Heaven to her. There are suggestions that they planned to emigrate to Jamaica together after a marriage ceremony but Mary returned home to her parents.

Painting of a woman wearing a red dress and hello corset top, with man on his knee holding her hand

Burns in Love

Further love affairs and romances included Agnes 'Nancy' McLehose and Jenny Clow, Nancy's domestic servant, who bore him a son, Robert Burns Clow in 1788 before he returned to Jean Armour in 1788.

Cartoon image of a man in green swaddling and holding a baby

Later Career

In April 1786, in need of more money to emigrate, Burns decided to try to publish some of his poems. On 31 July 1786 John Wilson, a local printer in Kilmarnock, published the volume of works by Robert Burns, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. It was a huge success and he was soon known across the country.

Image of a book cover for music, cover features some writing and some musical notes

The Scots Musical Museum

His music career began in 1787 when he met James Johnson and the first volume of The Scots Musical Museum was published containing three of Burns’ songs. In 1788 he returned to farming, on a farm near Dumfries, but also trained as an exciseman and so gave up farming in 1791 when he had created a career in Customs & Excise. It was around this time that he was writing at his best, and in November 1790 had produced Tam O' Shanter. He also began writing lyrics for The Melodies of Scotland.

Painting of a man (Robert Burns) with a slight smile looking off to the left

Robert Burns’ Most Famous Poems

His poem (and song) Auld Lang Syne is often sung at Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve), and Scots Wha Hae served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. 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; Tam o' Shanter, and Ae Fond Kiss. Many of Burns' 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.

When did Robert Burns die?

Rabbie Burns sadly died on 21st July 1796, aged 37, after a dental extraction. He was at first buried in the far corner of St. Michael's Churchyard in Dumfries; however, his body was eventually moved in September 1815 to its final resting place, in the same cemetery, the Burns Mausoleum. Jean Armour was laid to rest with him in 1834.

Graveyard with gravestones and in the middle background is a white domed mausoleum

Robert Burns Mausoleum

Poetry Themes

Burns, a romantic poet, was regarded as the National Poet of Scotland. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language. His themes included republicanism, radicalism, 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. The strong emotional highs and lows associated with many of Burns' poems have led some to suggest that he suffered from manic depression.

Robert Burns Legacy

Burns clubs have been founded worldwide. The first one, known as The Mother Club, was founded in Greenock in 1801 by merchants born in Ayrshire, some of whom had known Burns. The club set its original objectives as "To cherish the name of Robert Burns; to foster a love of his writings, and generally to encourage an interest in the Scottish language and literature." The club also continues to have local charitable work as a priority.

Burns' birthplace in Alloway is now a public museum known as Burns Cottage. His house in Dumfries is operated as the Robert Burns House, and the Robert Burns Centre in Dumfries features more exhibits about his life and works. Ellisland Farm in Auldgirth, which he owned from 1788 to 1791, is a museum and working farm.

Kitchen with stoned, with old styled furniture and fire place with pots and pans on top.

Burns Cottage Museum- image source National Trust for Scotland

The Soviet Union was the first country in the world to honour Burns with a commemorative stamp, marking the 160th anniversary of his death in 1956. 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' poem To a Mouse.

4 blue stamps with image of Robert Burns on them

Robert Burns Stamps

In September 2007, the Bank of Scotland redesigned their banknotes, and Robert Burns' statue is now portrayed on the reverse side of new £5. In 2009, the Royal Mint issued a commemorative two pound coin featuring a quote from "Auld Lang Syne".

white statue of Robert Burns, with a red brick background

Visit Robert Burns Statues

Across the globe there are over 57 statues and busts dedicated to Robert Burns, and we invite you to join in the fun to see who can get the best photo with the world's most famous Scot.

Ayr, Scotland

The Robert Burns statue in Ayr can be found in the town centre in the aptly name Burns Statue Square. The statue was created by London based sculptor George Anderson Lawson, and was unveiled on the 8th of July 1891. Replicas of this Burns statue can be found across the globe in Melbourne, Detroit, Vancouver, Montreal and Winnipeg. After visiting the statue why not pop into one of the nearby Robert Burns themed pubs for a dram, notably, "Rabbie's Bar" or "The Tam O'Shanter Inn"?

Statue of Robert Burns, with buildings in the background

Ayr, Scotland

Stirling, Scotland

Stirling is one of only three towns worldwide to host two statues of the famous Scottish poet. The first statue is housed in The National Wallace Monument and was sculpted by David Watson Stevenson. It was donated by another famous Scot, Andrew Carnegie, in 1886.

Stirling's other Burns statue can be found between the old and new town, on a triangular plot of land between Corn Exchange Road and Albert Place. The statue was sculpted by Glasgow born, London based, Albert Hemstock Hodge and unveiled in 1914. It is widely considered to be one of the most accurate representations of Burns. When visiting the statue, why not explore the near by Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum to find out more about the famous poet's adventures in Stirling?

Statue of Robert Burns, with cars and grass in the background

Robert Burns Statue - Stirling, Scotland

Camperdown, Australia

The Camperdown Burns statue, housed in the town's Civic Centre, is thought to the oldest full standing statue of Burns and the first in the Southern Hemisphere. The statue was based upon a portrait of Burns, painted by Peter Taylor in 1786, and carved by John Greenshieldsin 1830. It was brought to Australia with a Scottish family who had emigrated to Victoria in the 1850s. The statue was presented to the town in 1885 and stood in the town's Bontanic Gardens for over 125 years, before being relocated to the Camperdown Civic Centre following damage to the monument.

Statue of Robert Burns and a dog, inside a museum and with red barrier across

Robert Burns Statue - Camperdown, Australia

Vancouver, Canada

The Robert Burns statue, situated in Stanley Park, was the first ever statue to be erected in the city of Vancouver. The statue is a replica of the one found in Ayr, sculpted by George Anderson Lawson, and was unveiled on the 25th of August 1928. The statue in Stanley Park was the conception of Vancouver's Burns Fellowship who alongside the city's Scottish Orchestra and Choir raised the necessary funds to have the statue erected.

Statue of Robert Burns, with greenery and trees in the background

Robert Burns Statue - Vancouver, Canada

Dunedin, New Zealand

The Robert Burns statue in Dunedin is one of the four famous Steell statues, with the others being found in Dundee, New York and London. The statue is situated in the city's central plaza, The Octagon, and was unveiled on the 24th of May, 1887; by Robert Burns', great-grand niece. This statue is held in high regard by the city's residents, as it was founded by the 'Free Church of Scotland' and one of its founding fathers, Rev. Thomas Burns, was the nephew of the poet. When visiting the statue why not explore the nearby Dunedin Public Art Gallery, where you can see the painting 'The Meeting of Burns and Scott'; which illustrates a conversation between two of the most famous Scots?

Statue of Robert Burns, with a church in the background

Robert Burns Statue - Dunedin, New Zealand

New York City, United States of America

This statue of Burns is situated in New York City's famous Central Park, and was the first Burns statue to be erected outside of Scotland. The statue was the first of four created by Sir John Steell, and was unveiled to the City of New York on the 2nd of October 1880. It was a gift to the city from the Saint Andrews Society of the State of New York and the Scottish-American community to the city, and stands as a reminder of the strong bond between the two nations. The American-Scottish connection is seen throughout New York City today, with a host annual events, namely Burns Supper's organised by the American Scottish Foundation and the New York Caledonian Club; and New York City Tartan Week.

Statue of Robert Burns, with trees and leaves in the background

Robert Burns Statue - New York City

Tallinn, Estonia

This is perhaps the most obscure Robert Burns statue in the world, located in the Šoti Klubi(Scottish Club) within the Leib Restaurant in Estonia's capital city. The Šoti Klubi is also home to the statue of another famous Scot, Sean Connery. Why not pop into the Leib Restaurant for some delicious food and find out more about the Scottish Club of Tallinn?

Robert Burns Statue - Tallinn, Estonia

Many thanks for taking the time to find out more about the Robert Burns Statues, upload your snaps to your social media tagging us with @ScotlandShop and the #wheresrabbie. We look forward to seeing your photos.

Burns Night

When is Burns Night?

Burns Night is celebrated on 25th January with Burns Suppers around the world. The first Burns Supper was on 21st July 1801 at Burns Cottage in Alloway where nine of Burns' close friends toasted to his memory and recited some of his work. The evening was led by Reverend Hamilton Paul, and little did they know it would be the first ever Burns Supper. The friends enjoyed haggis and sheep's head, which was common on the menu at the time.

The following year, the friends planned to celebrate again, this time on Burns' birthday, which they thought was 29th January, but in 1803 they discovered from the Ayr parish records that his actual date of birth was 25th January 1759.

For the longest time, it has been assumed that, bucking with the convention of the times, a woman was present at this first Burns’ Supper. Don’t worry, the offending woman was actually a man, the confusion has arisen owing to the fact that this man was named Primrose Kennedy. The lack of women probably encouraged the evolution of one of my favourite parts of a Burns’ Supper, the toast to the lassies, but more on that later. Women or none, what is clear is that the original nine attendees had such a great time at their first Burns Night that they wanted to do it again, and again.

Man playing the pipes wearing a blue and green kilt with people drinking, talking and gathering in the background

Burns Night Traditions

The format of Burns Suppers has not changed since it was first celebrated. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements, followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the Grace comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, where Burns' famous Address To a Haggis is read and the haggis is cut open. The meal is served and then the reading called the "Immortal Memory", an overview of Burns' life and work, is given. "Toast to the Lassies" follows, which is a thanks to the ladies for preparing the food and to toast the lassies in Burns' life. "The Response" is then given; and the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

Cloth wrapped haggis on a board with a knife, glass and bottle of whiskey

Food and drink are essential ingredients of any good Burns Night. We have put together a simple and traditional Burns Night menu below which is sure to impress your guests.

Starter - Cock-a-leekie soup and Cullen Skink are both starters that you might find at a traditional Burns Supper and are sure to warm you up on a cold winter’s night.

White bowl with soup in it and red tartan in the background

Cullen Skink- Image source Alfred Enderby

Main Meal - Traditionally haggis, neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes) form the main meal at a Burns Night, with the haggis a focal point of the whole supper.

Three bowls with haggis, turnip and mashed potato on a tartan table runner

Burns Night Haggis

Dessert - We would recommend finishing off your Burns Night with a traditional Scottish dessert such as Cranachan.

Martini glass full of cake, red jam, cream and raspberries with tartan fabric in the background

Cranachan- Image source Great British Chefs

If you have an extra sweet tooth like me you might want a wee treat for later, we would highly recommend making you and your guests a Chocolate Haggis. Yes, you heard me right! A haggis made out of chocolate, you can read our blog and discover the origin and most importantly the recipe.

Chocolate Haggis