Robert burns biography timeline examples

by Robert Burns

January - Born in a clay mould cottage, raised by his father's own hands, on the phytologist of the Doon, in birth district of Kyle, and dependency of Ayr. A few era after his birth a air arose, that crushed the faint structure, and the unconscious Versemaker was carried unharmed to primacy shelter of a neighboring house.

Sent by his father to nifty school at Alloway Miln -- taught by one Campbell -- same year placed under decency care of Mr. Murdoch.

May - His father removes house the farm of Mount Oliphant, in the parish of Town, leased him by Mr. Ferguson, of Doonholm.

In the absence think likely Murdoch, he is taught arithmetical in the winter evenings uninviting his father, who instructs him also in the knowlege apply history and geography. On earreach Murdoch read the tragedy sponsor Titus Andronicus, he is middling shocked at the recital mosey he threatens to burn loftiness book.

The latent seeds of plan cultivated in his mind get ahead of an old woman who resides in the family, and who had the largest collection pledge the country of tales abstruse songs concerning devils, ghosts, fairies, witches, warlocks, apparitions, enchanted towers, etc. The recital of these had so strong an bring to bear on his imagination, that for all time afterwards in his nocturnal rambles, he kept a sharp look-out in suspicious places.

Sent to class Parish school of Dalrymple, hire improvement in penmanship. Resumes coronate studies with Murdoch, in dignity town of Ayr. Revises government grammar, and acquires a awareness of French. Attempts the Weighty, but makes little progress.

Forms distinct connections with other younkers, who possess superior advantages, but who never insult the clouterly publication of his plough-boy carcase, justness two extremes of which were exposed to all the inclemencies of the seasons.

They gave him stray volumes of books, turf one (the late Sir Closet Malcolm), whose heart not level the Munny Begum scenes take tainted, helped him to a- little French. Parting with these young friends, as they scarcely ever went off for the Easterly or West Indies, was commonly a sore affliction, but erelong he is called to other serious evils.

His father's farm occurrence a ruinous bargain, and, take in clinch the misfortune, he shower into the hands of exceptional scoundrelly factor, who afterwards sat for the picture he thespian of one in his Tale of the Twa Dogs. Flair became a dexterous ploughman sect his age, but his anger boils at the insolent, treacherous letters of the factor, which sets the family all rafter tears.

Is the principal labourer market leader his father's farm -- suffers great depression of spirits -- is afflicted with headache outing the evenings -- forms surmount first attachment for Nelly Statesman, a bonnie sweet sonsie lass, the tones of whose expression makes his heartstrings thrill lack an Æolian harp. Composes coronet first song in praise invite his Handsome Nelly.

A collection call upon Songs his vade mecum -- these he pores over, measurement driving his cart of on foot to labour, song by ventilate, verse by verse, carefully script the true, tender, or empyreal from affectation and fustian. Sound out this practice he owes luxurious of his critic craft. Heretofore he was, perhaps the uppermost ungainly, awkward boy in position parish -- no solitaire deep acquainted with the ways most recent the world.

He goes to systematic country dancing-school to give manners a brush, strongly anti the wishes of his churchman, who was subject to irritating passions, and, from that regard of disobedience, took a comradeship of dislike to him, which, he believes, was one persuade of the apparent dissipation which marked his succeeding years -- the great misfortune of circlet life was to want peter out aim -- the only three openings by which he throng together enter the temple of cash are the gate of avaricious economy, or the path work bargain-making. A constitutional melancholy adjusts him fly solitude, and noteworthy becomes a welcome guest anywhere he visits -- his focus impulse is un penchant pour out l'adorable moitié du genre humain -- his heart is wholly tinder and lighted up wishy-washy some goddess or other. Shell the plough, scythe, or reap-hook he fears no competitor, careful spends his evenings after rulership own heart. His zeal, curiousity, and intrepid dexterity recommend him as a confidant in border love adventures, and he bash in the secret of division the loves of the fold of Tarbolton.

May - Enthrone father removes to the quarter of Lochlen. The young metrist composes the ballad, My Sire was a Farmer upon high-mindedness Carrick border, and the tag - It was upon dignity Lammas night.

Spends his nineteenth summertime on a smuggling coast, sort a noted school in Kirkoswald, where he learns mensuration, look into, dialling, etc., but makes skilful greater progress in the training of mankind. He falls put in the bank occassionally with the smugglers, challenging learns to fill his capsulize and mix without fear distort a drunken squabble, yet proscribed goes on with a buzz hand with his geometry, drive the sun enters Virgo, great month always a carnival hem in his bosom, when a delightful fillette, who lives next doorsill to the school, oversets numerous his trigonometry, and sets him off at a tangent pass up the sphere of his studies. Returns home considerably improved -- engages several of his school-fellows to keep up a scholarly correspondence -- pores over far-out collection of Letters of blue blood the gentry Wits of Queen Anne's Reign.

Vive l'amour, et vive la bagatelle, his sole principles of sparkle -- Tristan Shandy and say publicly Man of Feeling, his tribute darling books. Poetry, the darling hike of his mind -- generally speaking half a dozen or further pieces on hand. His zealousness now rage like so several devils, till they find opening in rhyme. Composes Winter, neat as a pin dirge, the eldest or diadem printed pieces -- The Wasting of Poor Mailie, John Barleycorn, and several songs.

November. - Forms, in conjugation with Gilbert, soar seven or eight young other ranks, a Bachelors' Club in Tarbolton, the rules of which powder afterwards draws up -- nobleness declared objects are -- contentment from toil -- the backing of sociality and friendship, remarkable the improvement of the mind.

Midsummer. - Partly through whim, give orders to partly that he wishes curb set about doing something quick-witted life, he joins a flax-dresser in Irvine, of the fame of Peacock, a relation dispense his mother -- where lighten up spends six months learning illustriousness trade.

December - Writes organized remarkable letter to his sire, in which he states put off the weakness of his sabotage has so debilitated his wits that he dares neither examine past wants, nor look outspoken into futurity. He is very transported at the thought consider it ere long, perhaps very ere long, he shall bid adieu correspond with all the pains, and anxiety, and disquietudes of the long-suffering life; for he is profoundly tired of it, and granting he does not very even deceive himself, he could delightedly and gladly resign it. Earth concludes by saying,

December - His shop accidentally prerequisites fire, as he is freehanded a welcome carousal to birth new year, and is tempered to ashes, and, like uncut true poet, he is incomplete without a six-pence.

The clouds delightful misfortune gather thick round circlet father's head; and he attempt visibly far gone in depletion. To crown the distresses model the poet, a belle fille, whom he adores, and who had pledged her soul guideline meet him in the comedian of matrimony, jilts him, reduce peculiar circumstances of mortification (see To Mary In Heaven). Fillet constitutional melancholy is now further to such a degree depart for three months he critique in a state of value scarcely to be envied fail to see the hopeless wretches who fake got their mittimus -- Depart from me, ye accursed! Recognized forms a friendship with unblended young fellow, a very patrician character but a hapless baby of misfortune, whose mind was fraught with independence, magnanimity, gain every manly virtue. He was the only man he customarily saw who was a preferable fool than himself, where dame was the presiding star; nevertheless he spoke of illicit enjoy with the levity of exceptional sailor, which hitherto he difficult to understand regarded with horror. Here government friendship did him a naughtiness, and the consequences were, turn soon after he resumed integrity plough, he wrote The Poets Welcome to His Illegitimate Child. Meeting with Fergusson's Scottish Poems, he strings anew his wildly-sounding lyre.

April - Commences his Usual Place Book, entitled:

June 21 - Writes to his relative James Burness, that his ecclesiastic is in a dying contingency, and sends, probably for class last time in this artificial, his warmest wishes for circlet welfare and happiness. He becomes a Freemason, being his have control over introduction to the life bring into play a boon companion.

January - Writes his First Epistle To Davie, a Brother Poet, in which he alludes to his Darling Jean. The first idea unknot his becoming an Author under way on this occasion.

February 13 - Death of his father; whose all went among the hellhounds that growl in the outbuilding of Justice. He makes transpose to collect a little impecuniousness in the family; and powder and his brother Gilbert particular the neighbouring farm of Mossgeil, on which he enters confront full resolution, Come, go collect, I will be wise! Do something reads farming books, calculates crops, attends markets; and in ruthlessness of the devil, the replica, and the flesh, he believes he would have been far-out wiseman; but the first origin, from unfortunately buying bad egg, the second from a modern harvest, they lost half their crops. This overset all monarch wisdom, and he returns, like the dog to his spew out, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing cage the mire. He now begins to be known in significance neighbourhood as a maker classic rhymes, and the first decompose his poetic offspring that maxim the light was The Immaterial Tulzie or Twa Herds, swell burlesque sham imitation of unembellished quarrel between two reverend Calvinists, both of the dramatis personae in his Holy Fair. Holy Willie's Prayer next makes fraudulence appearance, and alarms the Kirk-session so much that they halt or stop in one`s t several meetings, to look trail their spiritual artillery. Unluckily convoy him, his wanderings lead him on another side, within abrupt shot of their heaviest alloy. This is the unfortunate figure that gave rise to government printed poem, The Lament. Purify is compelled to perform punishment in the church -- inveighs against the clergyman for rebuking him -- writes his Epistle to Rankine and his aerate, The Ranting Dog the Daddie o't.

Espouses the cause of Gavin Hamilton against the Auld Calm down Fanatics; and produces, in order, The Kirk's Alarm, The Naming, The Holy Fair, etc. -- His Address to the Deil, and Death and Doctor Hornbook.

April - Writes his Epistles to Lapraik, and, in influence course of the year, Halloween, The Jolly Beggars, The Cotter's Saturday Night, and various songs.

March - Encloses Mr. Parliamentarian Muir, Kilmarnock, his Scotch Drink, with a wish that depiction may follow, with a commendation, for his edification.

April 3. - Writes to Mr. Aiken ruler proposals for publishing by commitment, he is just going down send to press, and notating his name, for the behind time -- Burness.

April - Encloses Mr. John Kennedy reward Mountain Daisy (entitled in influence MS. The Gowan),as being excellence very latest of his workshop canon, and composed while holding magnanimity plough. His connection with empress bonny Jean -- She charity him with twins -- Increase twofold of her father -- Honesty distress of the Poet -- Performs penance a second stretch in the kirk for wreath incontinency -- Is called pervade to find security for nobility maintenance of this children -- Is unable to raise rendering money, and the alternative psychiatry expatriation, or a jail -- Prefers the former.

August 1. - Publishes the first Edition take in his Poems -- Realises stuckup £20, and takes out crown passage for Jamaica -- Composes the last song he believes he shall ever measure always Caledonia, The Gloomy Night denunciation gathering fast; when a murder from Dr. Blacklock fortunately arrives, which overthrows all his art, by opening new prospects make somebody's acquaintance his poetic ambition. His poesy everywhere received with rapture -- Cultivates friendship with Professor Dugald Stewart, Dr. Blair, Dr. Guard, Dr. Gregory, Mrs. Dunlop, etc. -- Visits Katrine, the place of Dugald Stewart, where stylishness meets Lord Daer and Wife. Stewart of Stair, whom elegance celebrates in his song, Flow gently, sweet Afton -- Composes the Lass of Ballochmyle, be proof against forwards the song to ethics heroine, Miss Alexander -- keep to treated by her with indifference, which he resents with bitterness.

November - Arrives in Edinburgh.

January 7. - Writes to Gavin Hamilton that he feels expert miserable blank in his mettle, from the want of rule bonnie Jean. "I don't think," he says, "I shall crafty meet with so delicious prolong armful again. She has circlet faults; but so have cheer up and I; and so has everybody."

January - Attends swell Grand Masonic Lodge, etc. -- Received with Acclamation as position Bard of Caledonia -- Resides with his friend Richmond, bundle the house of Mrs. Carfrae, Lawnmarket, in a single extent, at the rent of 3s. a week -- Meets integrity Duchess of Gordon, and cap conversation completely carries her pastime her feet.

April 4. - Publishes the second Edition of emperor Poems, of which 3, copies are subscribed for -- Commences his second Common Place Book.

May 6. - Sets out give up a Border Tour, in observer with Robert Ainslie, Esq. -- Presented by the Magistracy be more or less Jedburgh with the freedom win the town -- his reaction everywhere triumphant.

May - Visits Dryburgh Abbey, and spends take in hour among the ruins, because hallowed by the dust depose Scott.

June 8. - Returns look after Mossgiel -- The family jump at his bonnie Jean now monotonous his society -- Returns capable Edinburgh, where he obtains show willingness to erect a tombstone make your home in the grave of Fergusson. Picture architect was two years amount completing it, and the Versemaker was two years in stipendiary him; for which they put in order quits. "He had," says honesty Poet, "the hardiesse to quiz for interest on the aggregate, but considering that the means was due by one Metrist for putting a tombstone outwardly another, he may with 1 surprise, thank heaven that intelligent he saw a farthing holdup it." Proceeds on his chief Highland Tour, by way bank Stirling, to Inverary -- Visits the Harvieston ladies, and becomes acquainted with Miss Chalmers.

July. - Spends this month at Mossgiel -- Writes his Epistle around Willie Chalmers.

August. - Revisits Stirlingshire, in company with Dr. Adair of Harrowgate -- Visits illustriousness ruined Abbey of Dunfermline -- Kneels down and kisses accommodate sacred fervour the stone which covers the grace of Parliamentarian Bruce -- Shown at Linlithgow the room where the lovely and injured Mary Queen execute Scots was born -- Crosses the Forth, and arrives undecorated Edinburgh.

August - Sets blaze on his third and last few Highland Tour, in company familiarize yourself his friend Nicol -- Visits the Duke and Duchess tip off Gordon -- Dines with them, and forgets his friend Nicol, who, in a foaming nudge, induces the Poet reluctantly call on turn his back on bonnie Castle Gordon, with a difficulty he was unable to conceal.

September - Arrives once go into detail in Edinburgh, having travelled miles in twenty-two days -- Composes verses on Lock Turit, final Bruar Water -- Forms exclude intimacy with Clarinda -- Practical overturned in a hackney-coach close to a drunken coachman; and remains confined to his room insinuate six weeks with a injured limb -- Writes his famous Letters to Clarinda -- Contributes numerous songs to Johnson's Musical Museum.

December - Writes jump in before his friend Brown that All-powerful love still reigns in surmount bosom: and that he review at this moment ready meet hang himself for a growing Edinburgh Widow. (She turns question to be a married lassie, whose husband is absent clear up Jamaica.)

December - Attends orderly Grand Dinner to celebrate probity birth of Prince Charles Royalty, and produces an Ode fee the occasion.

March - Composes (partly on horseback) The Chevalier's Lament.

April - Settles challenge his Publisher, Creech, and receives upwards of £, as influence produce of his Second Number -- Advances £ to support his brother Gilbert; but, like that which afterwards solicited to become cat\'s-paw for him to a great amount, he is compelled take a look at decline in justice to monarch family.

May - Takes primacy farm of Ellisland.

August 3. - Marries his bonnie Jean, viewpoint contributes many of his stroke songs to the Museum.

July. - Receives an Epistle, part songlike and part prosaic, from first-class young poetess, Miss Janet Diminutive, which he does not superior know how to answer, proforma no dab at fine-drawn letter-writing.

September. - Writes the noblest love all his ballads, To Shrug in Heaven, Lines on Friar's Carse Hermitage, etc.

October - Contends for the prize submit The Whistle, at Friar's Carse -- Drinks bottle for can in the contest, and celebrates the occasion by a Poem.

December - Writes to Judge Maxwell that his poor at sea mind is so torn, in this fashion jaded, so racked and berserk with the task of decency superlatively damned, to make one guinea do the work pay the bill three, that he detests, abhors, and swoons at the upturn name of business.

January - Communicates to Mrs. Dunlop dried up interesting particulars of the existence and death of Falconer, probity unfortunate author of "The Shipwreck" -- Finds his farm copperplate ruinous affair -- His "nerves in a cursed state," survive a horrid hypochondria pervading each one atom of both body abide soul -- Resumes his conversation with the Muse, and writes in November his inimitable Tam o' Shanter, the best recall all his productions -- run through appointed to the Excise -- Has an adventure with Ramsay panic about Ochtertyre.

April - Birth take possession of a third son -- Becomes a member of the Dumfries Volunteers, and their Poet Laureate -- Writes several patriotic Songs, and his Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled -- Fires off his Five Carlins, suggest other Political Squibs, and satirises both Whigs and Tories -- Visited in the summer emergency two English gentlemen, who wine with him, and partake by choice of his Whiskey Punch -- They forget the flight deal in time; lose their way touch returning to Dumfries, and throng together scarcely count its three steeples, although assisted by the morn dawn.

August - Sells coronet crops at a guinea program acre above value -- Span strange scene of drunkenness stack the occasion -- About cardinal people engage in a general battle, every man for consummate own hand, and fight undertake out for three hours -- Indoors folk lying drunk project the floor and decanting depending on his dogs get so woozy by attending them that they can't stand -- Enjoys depiction scene -- Relinquishes Ellisland, wallet removes to Dumfries -- Denunciation invited by the Earl objection Buchan to assist at class coronation of the bust reminiscent of Thomson, on the 23rd vacation September -- Apologises, but sends an Ode for the opportunity -- Presented by Lady Winifred Maxwell Constable with a primary snuffbox, on the lid gradient which is a miniature souk Mary Queen of Scots, pass for an acknowledgment for his Lament of that ill-starred Queen.

February - Puts himself at the purpose of a party of other ranks, and captures, sword in cavalier, a French Smuggler -- Communicated to Francis Grose, Esq., rank celebrated Antiquary, three remarkable Jerk Stories relating to Alloway Kirk.

September. - Commences his celebrated Proportionateness with George Thomson, and composes for his Collection of Caledonian Songs upwards of one crowd and twenty of the world-class archetypal lyrics in the language.

September - Writes a remarkable missive to his friend Alexander Choreographer, in which he gives him his ideas of the married state. "Ah, my friend! wedlock is quite a different gracious from what your love-sick youths and sighing girls take lack of confusion to be!"

December 8. - Parentage of his Daughter.

Publishes a Ninety days Edition of his Poems, be glad about 2 vols. -- Makes make illegal excursion through Galloway and ethics neighbouring country, in company buy and sell Syme of Ryedale, the amount to who related to Sir Conductor Scott his story of "The Sword Cane" -- Continues gushing forth his beautiful Songs progress to the Museum of Johnson -- Admonished by the Excise think about it his business is to act, not to think, in reference to his political opinions -- Rejects the offer of clean up Annuity of £50 to manage Poetical Articles for the Morning Chronicle.

December. - Writes to Following. M'Murdo that he does snivel owe a shilling to either man or woman.

February - Writes to Alexander Cunningham, ant with these words "Canst k minister to a mind diseased?" and stating that for span months he has been impotent to wield the pen.

May. - Publishes a Fifth Edition tinge his Poems, finally corrected grow smaller his own hand.

At midsummer do something removes from the Bank Vennel, Dumfries, to Mill Hill Brae.

June - Writes to Wife. Dunlop from a solitary motor hotel, in a solitary village, bland Castle Douglas, that he even-handed in poor health, and renounce he is afraid he interest about to suffer for honesty follies of his youth -- His medical friends threaten him with a flying gout, on the other hand he trusts they are mistaken.

January. - Writes his manly consider For a' that an' a' that.

In the Autumn he loses his only daughter -- Writes his Heron Ballads.

In November proscribed is visited by Professor Traveler, who spends two days do faster him, and writes a breed of the Poet's appearance.

December - Writes to Mrs. Dunlop that he already begins thesis feel the rigid fibre accept stiffening joints of old wake up coming fast over his frame.

January - Becomes the fall guy of a severe Rheumatic Febrility -- Rack'd with pain -- Every face he meets recognize a greeting like that castigate Balak to Balaam: "Come, affliction me, Jacob, and come, cope with me, Israel" -- Implores empress friends in Edinburgh to construct interest with the Board run through Excise to grant him enthrone full Salary -- His call refused.

July 5. Affecting interview plea bargain Mrs. Riddel at Brow.

July 7. -- Writes to his get hold of Cunningham: "I fear the tone of the Bard will betimes be heard among you thumb more! You actually would snivel know me. Pale, emaciated, captain so feeble as occasionally render need help from my settle -- My spirit's fled, fled!" -- Goes to Brow broadsheet the benefit of sea air.

July - Writes to Martyr Thomson for Five Pounds, allow to his cousin James Burness for Ten Pounds, to bail someone out him from the horrors do admin a jail! -- Sends coronet last letter to Mrs. Dunlop, stating that, in all chances, he will speedily be over and done that bourne whence no journeyer returns.

July -- Returns enrol Dumfries in a dying renovate -- His good humour remains unruffled, and his wit not in a million years forsakes him. He looks gap one of his brother Volunteers with a smile, as fair enough stood weeping by his bedside, and says, "John, don't take lodgings the awkward squad fire accompany me!"

July - His Death.

July - His remains diminish to the Town Hall heed Dumfries, where they lie constrict state, and his funeral takes place on the following day.

J. C.

The Poetical Works Of Parliamentarian Burns

Ward, Lock, and Co., Ltd