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Robert Aiken
Robert Aiken was one of Robert Burns's closest friends and greatest admirers. He was born in 1739 in Ayr, Scotland. His father John Aiken, was a sea captain who owned his own ships and his mother was Sarah Dalrymple, distantly related to the Dalrymples of Stair. He became a writer or lawyer in Ayr and was referred to by Burns as "''Orator Bob''" in his poem "''The Kirk's Alarm''". Robert was famous for the power, beauty and quality of his oratory as his nickname infers. Life and character Robert was a prosperous and convivial individual, small in stature and rotund. He married Janet Hunter on 25 March 1771. She died on 17 October 1815 and is buried with her husband, who died aged 78 in 1807, in the Auld Kirk graveyard, Ayr. He was a cousin to the Earl of Glencairn and as stated had links with the Dalrymple family of Stair. As stated Robert was famous for his powers of oratory and Burns gave him the nickname ''Orator Bob'' in "''The Kirk's Alarm''": Aiken was a member of the c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stair, East Ayrshire
Stair is a village in Ayrshire, Scotland. It lies at the bottom of a glen beside the River Ayr at the north-west border of the 5,376 acre (22 km2) Parish of Stair where the River Ayr is joined by the Glenstang Burn. History The parish is known for its connection with the Dalrymples, Earls of Stair. The family first became associated with the village in 1450, when William de Dalrymple acquired the lands of Stair-Montgomery and built Stair House. Formerly part of the Parish of Ochiltree, Stair was made a separate parish in 1653 at the request of James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair. Places of interest in the parish include Stair Brig built in 1745 and Stair House. Dalmore House stood overlooking the River Ayr until destroyed by fire in 1969. The "Stair Fair" at the churchyard was the equivalent of the Mauchline Holy Fair and was equally wild with people travelling from miles around and staying several days until every last item of food and drink had been consumed. A "Fair ... [...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] |
1807 Deaths
Eighteen or 18 may refer to: * 18 (number), the natural number following 17 and preceding 19 * one of the years 18 BC, AD 18, 1918, 2018 Film, television and entertainment * 18 (film), ''18'' (film), a 1993 Taiwanese experimental film based on the short story ''God's Dice'' * Eighteen (film), ''Eighteen'' (film), a 2005 Canadian dramatic feature film * 18 (British Board of Film Classification), a film rating in the United Kingdom, also used in Ireland by the Irish Film Classification Office * 18 (Dragon Ball), 18 (''Dragon Ball''), a character in the ''Dragon Ball'' franchise * "Eighteen", a 2006 episode of the animated television series ''12 oz. Mouse'' Music Albums * 18 (Moby album), ''18'' (Moby album), 2002 * 18 (Nana Kitade album), ''18'' (Nana Kitade album), 2005 * ''18...'', 2009 debut album by G.E.M. Songs * 18 (5 Seconds of Summer song), "18" (5 Seconds of Summer song), from their 2014 eponymous debut album * 18 (One Direction song), "18" (One Direction song), from the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1739 Births
Events January–March * January 1 – Bouvet Island is discovered by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier, in the South Atlantic Ocean. * January 3: A 7.6 earthquake shakes the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China killing 50,000 people. * February 24 – Battle of Karnal: The army of Iranian ruler Nader Shah defeats the forces of the Mughal emperor of India, Muhammad Shah. * March 20 – Nader Shah occupies Delhi, India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne, including the Koh-i-Noor. April–June * April 7 – English highwayman Dick Turpin is executed by hanging for horse theft. * May 12 – John Wesley lays the foundation stone of the New Room, Bristol in England, the world's first Methodist meeting house. * June 13 – (June 2 Old Style); The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is founded in Stockholm, Sweden. July–September * July 9 – The first group purporting ... [...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] |
Peggy Thompson
Margaret "Peggy" Thompson, later Margaret Neilson, was the housekeeper at Coilsfield House or Montgomery Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland. She married John Neilsen of Monyfee. The couple lived at Minnybae Farm near Kirkoswald. She was the 'charming Fillette' of Robert Burns fame and her husband was an old acquaintance of the poet. It was on 23 August 1775 that she was first seen in her garden by Burns when he was out at noon in the school's backyard measuring the altitude of the sun. Peggy in later life moved to Ayr where her children still lived in 1840. Association with Robert Burns As stated Burns first met her when he was studying at Kirkoswald school in the summer of 1775 under the schoolmaster Hugh Rodger (1726-1797). She lived with her parents, next door to the school, and Robert Burns recorded that she ''"over-set my trigonometry, and set me off in a Tangent from the sphere of my studies"''. Robert Burns met Peggy Thompson frequently at Tarboth or Tarbolton Mill and they ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Isabella Steven
Isabella Steven or Tibbie Stein was the daughter of a tenant farmer from Littlehill or Little Hill Farm (NS467305) that adjoined the Burns's farm at Lochlea.Boyle, Page 86 'Stein' is an alternative form of the surname 'Steven'. Littlehill had three acres of land that are said to have been little better than peat moss. She is also said to have lived in Tarbolton.'' Life and character Isabella or Tibbie was regarded as having been very good looking and at the age of seventeen Robert Burns was greatly attracted to her. The poet ''"deemed himself doing well in his courtship"'' until 'Tibbie' came into a legacy and dowry of £75 at which point she decided herself above a mere farmer's son. She married a more prosperous suitor soon after. Aged nine or ten at the time of these events, Isobel Burns, sister of the poet, is the only source of Isabella Stevens identification as being the 'Tibbie' of the song.MacKay, Page 80 A Tarbolton tradition holds that 'Tibbie' lived in the village on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anne Rankine
Anne Rankine was the youngest daughter of a tenant farmer, John Rankine from Adamhill Farm that lay two miles from the Robert Burns's family farm at Lochlea. She married John Merry, an inn-keeper in Cumnock on 29 December 1782,Mackay, Page 72 and is buried in Cumnock old churchyard. She maintained she was the 'Annie' of Robert Burns' song 'The Rigs o' Barley', however some maintain that she was merely trying to encourage business at their inn at Cumnock. Her father was brother-in-law to John Lapraik the poet.Purdie, Page 19 Life and character As stated, Anne was the daughter of a tenant farmer, a friend of Robert Burns, who is described by him as ''"rough, rude, ready-witted Rankine"''. She married an inn-keeper, John Merry, who died in 1802 and thereafter she ran the inn herself until she died in 1843, aged 84.Boyle, Page 1 Burns lodged at the inn in August 1786, four years after the song was written. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John McMurdo
John McMurdo (1743–1803) was a friend of Robert Burns who became the chamberlain to the Duke of Queensberry at Drumlanrig Castle where the poet was a frequent visitor. His eldest daughter Jean (1777-1839) was also a close friend of Burns, who wrote the song "''Bonie Jean''" in her honour. As an old Nithsdale family the McMurdos were related to the Sharpes of Hoddam, the Charteris of Amisfield, the Fergussons of Craigdarroch, Dr James Currie and the Duncans of Torthorwald amongst others. Life and character His father was Robert McMurdo of Drungans and his mother was Philadelphia Douglas. His father was the chamberlain to 'Old Q', the 4th Duke of Queensberry, William Douglas at Drumlanrig Castle to whom he was related as a distant cousin and John, although qualified as a lawyer, succeeded him in 1780, retiring in 1797. He married Jane Blair (1749-1836), daughter of David Blair, daughter of the Provost of Dumfries and the couple had seven sons and seven daughters. Jane died o ... [...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 ...
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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] |
