Robert Burns (or Burnes) was born on the 25th January 1759 to an Ayrshire farming family. During his all too short lifespan he penned well over 600 works, many of the highest quality. In so doing, he left a heritage which would span the world like no other has done before, or since.
Robert's father, William Burnes, was determined Robert and his brother Gilbert would have an education. Robert spent only two years at school in Alloway before he was taken out to work on the farm, but his education was continued by his father who taught the boys the three R's, geography and the rudiments of ancient and natural history.Burns suffered from endocarditis from an early age, and spent his life fighting ill - health. Despite this and the rigours of working unyielding farmlands, he developed the skills of literary genius which were to lead to his acclaim, not only as an exceptional wordsmith but as a human being of great passion. Unlike some of his contemporaries he did achieve some note while he was alive although, by the time of his death in 1796, his greatest terror was the prospect of dying in debt: something he avoided by a small enough margin. This chesspiece is based on the statue of Burns which stands in Dumfries.
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 (Robert).
Rantin, Rovin' Robin
(1785)
They Scotia's race amang them share:
Some fire the soldier on to dare;
Some rouse the patriot up to bare
Corruption's heart:
Some teach the bard-a darling care-
The tuneful art.
The Vision
(August, 1786)
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