Robert Burns

Biography Robert Burns was born at Alloway, near Ayr, on

January 25, 1759. Burns started his career by working on the

family farm. Robert's father recognized the importance of education and he had hired a local teacher to educate Burns. Even from an early age Burns began to show signs of his writing talent.

Burns Cottage in Alloway , Scotland.

Poetry Burns later literary output consisted

almost entirely of songs, both original compositions and adaptations of traditional Scottish ballads and folk songs.

Kilmarnock Edition Robert Burns published his

poems chiefly in the Scottish dialect, known as the Kilmarnock edition. The poems were published in Kilmarnock in July 1786.Brought out by John Wilson, a local printer in Kilmarnock, it contained much of his best writing, including The Twa Dogs, Hallowe'en, To a Mouse.. The success of the work was immediate, and soon he was known across the country.

Family Bible

Burns bought the bible in 1788 for £2 from an Edinburgh bookseller. In it he inscribed the names of his wife, Jean Armour, and seven of their children: Robert, Jean, two un-named twins, Francis Wallace, William Nicole and Elizabeth Riddell.

My Heart's in the Highlands

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,

The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;

Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,

The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here;

My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;

A-chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,

My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go.

Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow; Farewell to the straths and

green valleys below; Farewell to the forests and

wild-hanging woods; Farewell to the torrents and

loud-pouring floods. My heart's in the

Highlands, my heart is not here;

My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the

deer; A-chasing the wild-deer,

and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands

wherever I go.

Song “Rantin', Rovin' Robin”There was a lad was born in Kyle, But whatna day o' whatna style, I doubt it's hardly worth the while To be sae nice wi' Robin.

Robin was a rovin' boy, Rantin', rovin', rantin', rovin', Robin was a rovin' boy, Rantin', rovin', Robin!

Our monarch's hindmost year but ane Was five-and-twenty days begun, 'Twas then a blast o' Janwar' win' Blew hansel in on Robin.

"He'll hae misfortunes great an' sma', But aye a heart aboon them a', He'll be a credit till us a'- We'll a' be proud o' Robin."

"But sure as three times mak nine, I see by ilka score and line, This chap will dearly like our kin', So leeze me on thee! Robin."

"Guid faith "I doubt you gar The bonie lasses lie aspar; But twenty fauts ye may hae waur So blessins on thee! Robin."

Robert Burns Mausoleum at St. Michael's churchyard in

Dumfries.

Failing health and death

As his health began to give way, Burns began to age prematurely and fell into fits of despondency. The habits of intemperance to have aggravated his long-standing possible rheumatic heart condition.

On the morning of 21 July 1796, Robert Burns died in Dumfries at the age of 37. He was buried in the Burns Mausoleum.

He was a great man,

our national poet ...