|
A.D. |
MONTH |
AGE |
|
|
1721 |
Nov. 11 |
|
William Burnes (or Burness) born at
Clockenhill, Kincardineshire. |
|
1732 |
March 17 |
|
Agnes Brown, wife of William Burnes,
born in Carrick district, Ayrshire.
|
|
1748 |
|
|
William Burnes arrives in the south
of Scotland.
|
|
I7S7 |
Dec. 3 |
|
Marriage of William Burnes and Agnes
Brown, who settle at Alloway.
|
|
1759
|
Jan. 25
|
|
Robert Burns born at Alloway. |
|
1760 |
Sept. 28 |
6 |
Gilbert Burns born. |
|
1765 |
|
|
Burns sent to school at Alloway, first,
under Campbell; next, under Murdoch. |
|
1766 |
|
7 |
William Burnes removed to the farm of Mount
Oliphant. Sons continue to attend Murdoch's school at Alloway.
|
|
1768 |
|
9 |
Murdoch leaves Alloway. William Burnes
teaches his sons at home. |
|
1770 |
|
11 |
Burns reads Life of Sir William Wallace
and Collection of Letters. |
|
1772 |
|
13 |
Burns attends the parish school of Dalrymple
during the summer quarter. |
|
1773 |
|
14 |
Burns is boarded with Murdoch in Ayr for
three weeks, where he improves his English grammar and is
introduced to the French language. |
|
1774
|
|
I5
|
First song, 0 once I loved a bonnie lass.
|
|
1775 |
|
16 |
The family in financial trouble and great
sorrow at Mount Oliphant. |
|
1776 |
|
17 |
Burns spends the summer at Kirkoswald, where
he meets Peggy Thomson, the heroine of the song New westlin
winds, etc. Attends dancing classes. Composes the verses I
dream'd I lay where flowers were springing. |
|
1777 |
May |
18 |
William Burnes, with his family, removes to
Lochlea, Tarbolton. |
|
1778 |
|
19 |
Burns writes a tragedy in outline—only a
fragment of twenty lines preserved. |
|
1779 |
|
20 |
On farm as ploughman |
|
1780 |
|
21 |
"Bachelors' Club" established in village of
Tarbolton. |
|
1781 |
|
22 |
Burns courts Ellison Begbie, the sweetheart
of the Song of Similes. Begins in earnest as poet, and produces
some of his best earlier poems and songs. |
|
1782 |
|
23 |
Burns is rejected by Ellison Begbie. In
Irvine from midsummer, 1781, until March of this year. |
|
1783 |
|
24 |
Failure of William Burnes in Lochlea. |
|
1784 |
|
25 |
William Burnes died, aged sixty-four; Robert
and Gilbert removed to Mossgiel in March. In spring Burns meets
Jean Armour. In summer he is rebuked by the kirk session as the
father of Elizabeth Paton's child. |
|
1785 |
|
26 |
Burns at Mossgiel. Period of his supreme
activity as poet. Year in which he wrote The Cottars Saturday
Night, The Jolly Beggars, Holy Willie's Prayer, etc. |
|
1786 |
|
27 |
Failure of farming at Mossgiel. Jean
Armour's first shame. Burns promises to marry Jean; her father
interferes, and sends Jean to Paisley. Burns gets certificate of
bachelorhood from kirk session. |
|
1786 |
|
|
Burns resolves to emigrate to Jamaica. First
volume of poems published in Kilmarnock. Is jilted by Jean Armour,
and falls in love with Mary Campbell, who died at Greenock in the
autumn. Twins born to him by Jean Armour on September 3rd. Burns
leaves Mauchline in November, and arrives in Edinburgh at the end
of that month. |
|
1787 |
April |
|
Second edition of poems published in
Edinburgh. |
|
1787 |
May |
|
Tour in the Border country. |
|
1787 |
June 4 |
|
Burns is made an honorary burgess of
Dumfries. |
|
1787 |
June 9 |
|
Returns to Mauchline, and renews the
intimacy with Jean Armour. |
|
1787 |
Sept 25 |
|
Leaves Edinburgh with Nicol on a tour in the
Highlands. |
|
1787 |
Dec |
|
Burns is introduced to Mrs. Maclehose
(Clarinda). |
|
1787 |
|
|
Burns's application to the Commissioners of
Excise is favourably entertained. |
|
1788 |
Feb |
29 |
Leaves Edinburgh to inspect Elliesland farm. |
|
1788 |
|
|
During winter Burns assists Johnson with The
Scots Musical Museum. |
|
1788 |
Feb 23 |
|
Burns in Mauchline. Finds Jean Armour driven
from home and about to become a mother for the second time; finds
her a home and maintenance |
|
1788 |
March 3 |
|
Twins again born to Burns by Jean Armour ;
both died in infancy. |
|
1788 |
March 10
|
|
Burns returns to Edinburgh. |
|
1788 |
March 13 |
|
Burns takes a lease of the farm of
Elliesland |
|
1788 |
March 20 |
|
Settles with Creech as to second edition of
poems—profits variously stated, some say £500, some £400 |
|
1788 |
|
|
Burns gives £180 to his brother Gilbert,
probably on loan, perhaps as a gift to enable Gilbert to continue
to keep the poet's mother at Mossgiel |
|
1788 |
April |
|
Burns is privately married in Mauchline to
Jean Armour. |
|
1788 |
March to June |
|
Burns receives Excise instruction at
Tarbolton. |
|
1788 |
June 13 |
|
Burns enters into residence at Elliesland.
Of a the airts, etc., composed. |
|
1788 |
Aug 5 |
|
Burns and Jean Armour formally made man and
wife by the kirk session of Mauchline |
|
1788 |
Nov |
|
Jean Armour removes to Elliesland. |
|
1789 |
Feb |
30 |
Burns visits Edinburgh. |
|
1789 |
Aug 18 |
|
Son, Francis Wallace Burns, born. |
|
1789 |
|
|
Burns appointed an officer of the Excise. |
|
1789 |
Oct 16 |
|
The Whistle contest at Friar's Carse |
|
1789 |
Oct 20 |
|
To Mary in Heaven composed. |
|
1790 |
Jan 11 |
31 |
Confession to Gilbert of failure in the farm
of EUiesland. |
|
1790 |
Jan |
|
Burns on duty as an Exciseman |
|
1790 |
|
|
Tam 0' Shanter composed in autumn. |
|
1791 |
March |
32 |
Episode of Anna of the gowden locks,
etc. |
|
1791 |
April 9 |
|
Son, William Nicol Burns, born. |
|
1791 |
April 30 |
|
Burns sells his crop and prepares to quit
farming. |
|
1791 |
Nov 11 |
|
Removal to Dumfries |
|
1791 |
Nov
(end of) |
|
Burns visits Edinburgh. Finds relief for
"Jenny Clow" |
|
1791 |
Dec |
|
Song Ae fond kiss, etc., composed. |
|
1792 |
Feb 27 |
33 |
Burns boards a smuggling vessel in the
Solway. Sent small guns to the French Convention, which were
stopped at Dover by the Custom-House officers. Consequent trouble
with the Board of Excise. |
|
1792 |
Sept |
|
Begins to write songs for Thomson. |
|
1792 |
Nov 14 |
|
Sends the song of Highland Mary to
Thomson. |
|
1793 |
May
|
34 |
Burns removed from Bank Street to Burns
Street (then the Millhole Brae), to the house in which he died.
|
|
1793 |
July |
|
Excursion into Galloway with Mr. John Syme. |
|
1793 |
Sept |
|
Scots Wha hae and Auld Lang Syne
sent to Thomson. |
|
1794 |
Aug 12 |
35 |
Son, James Glencairn Burns, born. |
|
1794 |
|
|
Episode at Woodley Park, and quarrel with
Mrs. Riddel. |
|
1794 |
|
|
Songs inspired by Jane Lorimer (Chloris)
composed. |
|
1794 |
|
|
Burns acts as supervisor for some time. |
|
1795 |
Jan |
36 |
For a' that and a' that composed. |
|
1795 |
|
|
Burns is reconciled to Maria Riddel. |
|
1795 |
|
|
The Heron Ballads written. |
|
1795 |
|
|
Burns joins the Dumfriesshire corps of
volunteers. |
|
1795 |
|
|
His health breaks down. |
|
1796 |
Jan |
37 |
Burns gets his death-chill on his way home
from the Globe Tavern. |
|
1796 |
July |
|
Songs inspired by Jessie Lewars written.
|
|
1796 |
July 4 |
|
Burns seeks health at the Brow Well. |
|
1796 |
July 10
|
|
Letters of despair written to Gilbert and
"stern old James Armour," etc. |
|
1796 |
July 18 |
|
Burns returned from the Brow Well to
Dumfries. |
|
1796 |
July 21 |
|
Death of Burns. |
|
1796 |
July 25
|
|
Coffin taken to the Town Hall. |
|
1796 |
July 26 |
|
Burns buried in the St. Michael's kirkyard
of Dumfries. |
|
1834 |
March 26 |
|
Mrs. Burns (Jean Armour) died in Dumfries. |
