|
James Smith (draper)
James Smith of Mauchline was one of Robert Burns's closest friends and confidants. He was born in 1765, son of a Mauchline merchant, Ayrshire, Scotland. In 1775, when he was only ten years, old his father, Robert Smith, a prosperous local merchant, was killed in a riding accident, falling from his horse whilst returning from Ayr. His mother, Jean Smith, remarried James Lamie who owned the adjoining house. Life and character After his father's death his mother married on 11 March 1777 a man with a reputation for pious and austere behaviour, a strict 'Auld Licht' Mauchline Kirk elder, named Mr. James Lamie or Lammie who attempted to provide a strict upbringing for his stepson. James Lammie is said to not have approved of James or his associates. Jean bore James Lamie a son, James, on 6 August 1780. It was James Lamie who had accompanied Willie Fisher on a visit to Jean Armour's parents regarding her rumoured pregnancy out of wedlock. He was also directly involved in the Kirk Sess ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Burns
Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is in a "light Scots dialect" of English, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these writings his political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest. He is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement, and after his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and 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. In 2009 he was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish pub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Greenock
Greenock (; sco, Greenock; gd, Grianaig, ) is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council areas of Scotland, council area in Scotland, United Kingdom and a former burgh of barony, burgh within the Counties of Scotland, historic county of Renfrewshire (historic), Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It forms part of a contiguous urban area with Gourock to the west and Port Glasgow to the east. The United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 UK Census showed that Greenock had a population of 44,248, a decrease from the 46,861 recorded in the United Kingdom Census 2001, 2001 UK Census. It lies on the south bank of the Clyde at the "Tail of the Bank" where the River Clyde deepens into the Firth of Clyde. History Name Place-name scholar William J. Watson wrote that "Greenock is well known in Gaelic as Grianáig, dative of grianág, a sunny knoll". The Scottish Gaelic place-name ''Grianaig'' is relatively common, with another (Greenock) near Calla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jessie Lewars
Jessie Lewars also known as Mrs. James Thomson,Westwood, Page 1 was the youngest daughter of John Lewars, a supervisor of excise. Following the death of her 69-year-old father in 1789, Jessie was only 11 years old, when she and her brother John moved to a house in Millhole Brae (now Burns Street) that lay opposite that of Robert Burns in Dumfries. Jessie was a close Burns family friend and when nearly at the age of eighteen helped the family by nursing Robert in the days leading up to his death and doing the domestic chores.Mackay, page 624Westwood (2008), Page 96 Life and character Jessie had a brother and also an older sister, Mary, who married William Hyslop, a Dumfries builder. As teasingly predicted by Robert Burns, Jessie married James Thomson, a lawyer or solicitor, in Dumfries on 3 June 1799. The couple had five sons and two daughters. The sons were James (1800–1820); John (1802–1834), who worked with his father; William (1805–1858), who was a captain in the mercha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nelly Kilpatrick
Nelly or Nellie Kilpatrick, Helen Kilpatrick or later Nelly Bone (1759–1820). Nelly (usually short for "Helen") was possibly Robert Burns's first love and muse as stated by Isabella Burns. Early life Nelly is usually used as a nickname for "Helen." Some authors give her birth year as 1760. Nelly may have been the daughter of John Kilpatrick,Mackay, page 52 the miller and his wife Jane Reid of Perclewan Mill near Dalrymple.Burns Encyclopedia Retrieved : 2012-02-06 She was baptised on 1 March 1759. Life and character 
He sta ...
[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Helen Hyslop
Helen Hyslop, also Nelly or Ellen Hyslop was a 'noted local beauty' in Moffat and a strong local tradition maintains that Robert Burns was for some time a great admirer of her and that she had an affair with him. A daughter, also Helen, is said to have been born as a result of this liaison.Westwood, Page 138 Parish records show that a Helen Hyslop, the mother of Burns's possible daughter, was born in the area in 1766, her parents being John Hyslop and Janet Howatson of Langholm.Mackay, Page 687 Associates An article was published in a Moffat newspaper in circa 1885 recalling that a Mrs Richardson of Moffat, born in 1864, recalled running messages as a child for Helen Armstrong, the daughter's married name, and knew her as a daughter of Robert Burns.Robert Burns Chronicle, Page 51 Life and character Little detail is extant regarding Ellen/Helen or Nelly, other than her good looks. The daughter, also Ellen/Helen, after retiring, lived until the age of ninety-eight in the same litt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jenny Clow
Janet, Jennie or Jenny Clow was a domestic servant to Mrs Agnes Maclehose, née Craig (1759-1841), the Clarinda to Robert Burns' Sylvander.Burns Encyclopedia Retrieved : 2012-02-26 She was the daughter of Andrew (or AlexanderWestwood, Page 138) Clow and Margaret Inglis from and was the youngest of eight children.Rootsweb Retrieved : 2012-02-26 Her mistress sent her to deliver a letter to the poet and he seduced her. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
May Cameron
May Cameron also known as Margaret, Peggy, or Meg Cameron,Burns Encyclopedia Retrieved : 2012-03-11 was a servant in Edinburgh, working at a house close to that of William Creech, Burns's Edinburgh publisher. retrieved : 2012-03-11 Life and character May Cameron was, as stated, a servant girl working in Edinburgh. After a brief relationship with she lost her job and had at first to rely upon the poet for funds. May married her cousin Mungo Forbes in September 1788. Mackay states that she was a Highlander.[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isabella Burns
Isabella Burns (Isabella Begg) (1771–1858) or Isobel Burns (Isobel Begg) was the youngest sister of the poet Robert Burns, born to William Burness and Agnes Broun at Mount Oliphant Farm on the 27 June 1771 and christened on 2 July 1771 by Rev. William McGill, a friend of her father.McQueen, Page 15 When she died she was the last member of Robert Burns's immediate family and when living at Bridge House in Alloway for the last sixteen years of her life she entertained many visitors who were interested in his life and works. She was the source of many published insights into Burns' life, character and loves. Her siblings knew her as 'Isbal'. Life and background Her sisters were Agnes and Annabella whilst her brothers were Robert, Gilbert, John and William. When at Lochlea, Robert Chambers records from her own words "''Her main occupation was one suited to her tender years – that of tending the cattle in the field. Her father would often visit her, sit down by her side, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nelly Blair
Nelly Blair, later Nelly Smith (17591820) is sometimes suggested as being Scottish poet Robert Burns' first love. The true identity of Nell Burns himself did not identify his 'Handsome Nell' by name. Nelly Kilpatrick has been suggested as being Burns's first romantic love, but some significant doubts exist about the true identity of this individual. It was thought to be a Nelly Blair until Burns's sister Isabella gave the name Nelly Kilpatrick, however Isobel was only three years old at the time of Burns's association with Nelly and some doubt must be cast on her recollections at this stage in her life.Mackay, Page 51 Life and character Burns stated that Nelly had a sweet voice and was wont to sing songs as she worked in the fields.Scotland's Culture 6 February 2012 The first reference to Nelly ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alison Begbie
Alison Begbie, Ellison Begbie or Elizabeth Gebbie (1762–1823), is said to have been the daughter of a farmer, born in the parish of Galston, and at the time of her courtship by Robert Burns she is thought to have been a servant or housekeeper employed at Carnell House, then known as Cairnhill, on the River Cessnock, situated about 2 miles from Loudoun Mill. It is thought that Burns's youngest sister Isobel Burns confused her name, which was really Elizabeth Gebbie.Mackay, Page 88 Life and character Alison may have lived at Old Place, now Shawsmill Farm, the daughter of a tenant-farmer.Mackay, Page 84 Burns was living at Lochlea Farm at this time.Robert Burns Encyclopedia Retrieved : 9 February 2012 Although not a beauty, she had many charming qualities, inspired by an education somewhat beyond anything that Burns had ever encounte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lesley Baillie
Lesley Baillie (1768–1843), later Mrs Lesley Cumming, was born at Mayville, Stevenston, Ayrshire. She was a daughter of Robert Baillie and married Robert Cumming of Logie, Moray. Her lasting fame derives from being Robert Burns's 'Bonnie Lesley', ''"the most beautiful, elegant woman in the world"''. On her tombstone her name is given as Leslie Baillie. Life and character The daughter of sea captain Robert Baillie of Mayfield,Love, Page 45 she married Robert Cumming of Logie, Moray in 1799. She had a sister named Maria (Grace) and her mother was May Reid. She was a granddaughter of Anna Cunninghame and John Reid, second son of the minister of the parish, their daughter being her mother. Through her mother she was related to Sir Robert Cunninghame of Auchenharvie.Clements, Page 72 In 1799 Lesley married Robert Cumming of Logie, Morayshire. Lesley had six children of whom four sons died on army service in India. Her husband predeceased her by a good many years. Her character was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Ballantine (merchant And Banker)
John Ballantine (1743–1812), was a Scottish merchant and banker and one of the greatest friends, admirers and closest confidants of Robert Burns. Significantly Ballantine gave the poet advice on the selection of poems for his First Kilmarnock Edition as well as being asked for his opinion on the bard's poems. Life and character John was born in Ayr to William Ballantine, a baillie in Ayr and his mother was Elizabeth Bowman. He was a merchant and a Banker and in 1787 he became the Provost of Ayr, during which time he helped establish Ayr Academy. As the Dean of Guild he had served a leading role in the plans to build a new bridge over the River Ayr. He died unmarried aged 68 and is buried at the Auld Kirk in Ayr. He lived at Castlehill House, now demolished, on the Ayr to Dalmellington road. The Castlehill area of Ayr is named for the old house and estate. Association with Robert Burns Burns from time to time sent Ballantine drafts of his poetry, however their correspondence ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
