Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, Robden of Solway Firth, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply The Bard) was a Scottish poet and a 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 also in English and a "light" Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.

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. 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 voted by the Scottish public as being the Greatest Scot, through a vote run by Scottish television channel STV.

As well as making original compositions, Burns also collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His poem (and song) Auld Lang Syne is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year), and Scots Wha Hae served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country. Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well-known across the world today include A Red, Red Rose; A Man's A Man for A' That; To a Louse; To a Mouse; The Battle of Sherramuir; Tam o' Shanter, and Ae Fond Kiss.

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' Robert Burns was born on 25 January 1759 in Alloway, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. He was the son of William Burness and Agnes Brown. He married Jean Armour, daughter of James Armour and Mary Smith, in 1788 in Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland. He died on 21 July 1796 in Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, at age 37. He was buried on 25 July 1796 in St Michael's Kirkyard, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

Charts

   Descendants of Walter Burness

   Descendants of Robert Burns

Children of Robert Burns and Jean Armour

   * Robert Burns+ b. 3 Sep 1786, d. 14 May 1857

   * Jean Burns b. 3 Sep 1786, d. 20 Oct 1787

   * Unnamed Burns b. 9 Mar 1788, d. 10 Mar 1788

   * Unnamed Burns b. 9 Mar 1788, d. 22 Mar 1788

   * Francis Wallace Burns b. 18 Aug 1789, d. 9 Jul 1803

   * William Nicol Burns b. 9 Apr 1791, d. 21 Feb 1872

   * Elizabeth Riddell Burns b. 21 Nov 1792, d. Sep 1795

   * James Glencairn Burns+ b. 12 Aug 1794, d. 18 Nov 1865

   * Maxwell Burns b. 25 Jul 1796, d. 25 Apr 1799

Child of Robert Burns and Elizabeth Paton

   * Elizabeth Burns+ b. 22 May 1785, d. 8 Jan 1817

Child of Robert Burns and Janet Clow

   * Robert Burns+ b. Nov 1788

Child of Robert Burns and Ann Park

   * Elizabeth Burns+ b. 31 Mar 1791, d. 13 Jun 1873

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Scotlands National Bard. -------------------- http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=lovermire&id=I12595