Col William Nicol Burns

'Colonel William Nicol Burns, third Son of the Poet', c 1850 Introduction: William Nicol Burns was the sixth child of Robert Burns and his wife, Jean Armour Burns and one of three sons to survive into adulthood. He was named after the poet's friend William Nicol, the companion of his Highland tour and hero of the poem, 'Willie Brew'd A Peck O' Maut'. Image Rights Holder: Dumfries & Galloway Museums Service Ref: 210 Project: 241:Robert Burns - People and Places Material: Paper Dimensions: Image - length: 99 mm, width: 77 mm What: Print entitled 'Colonel W Nicol Burns, third Son of the Poet' Subject: This mezzotint, made from an earlier oil portrait by Sir Daniel Macnee was published in 1898 in the 'Memorial Catalogue of the Burns Exhibition, 1896'. This detailed the contents of the great exhibition of Burns material held in the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts in 1896 as part of the events which commemorated the centenary of the poet's death. Who: Robert Burns (1759-1796) (his son) East India Company, The (employee) William Nicol Burns (1791-1872) (son of the poet, Robert Burns) (representation) Jean Armour Burns (1767-1834) (wife of the poet, Robert Burns) (her son) Sir Daniel Macnee (1806-1882) (artist (after)) Sarah Elizabeth Maitland Tombs Burns (1821-1909) (grand daughter of the poet, Robert Burns) (lent painting to exhibition) Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts (175 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow) (exhibition held at) William Hodge and Company (Glasgow) (publisher and printer) William Nicol Burns (1791-1872) (son of the poet, Robert Burns) (representation) When: 1898 (published) Where: Dumfries Museum, Dumfries & Galloway Background: This mezzotint, made from an earlier oil portrait by Sir Daniel Macnee was published in 1898 in the 'Memorial Catalogue of the Burns Exhibition, 1896'. This detailed the contents of the great exhibition of Burns material held in the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts in 1896 as part of the events which commemorated the centenary of the poet's death. Description: He made a distinguished career in the East India Company, rising to the rank of Colonel and retired to Cheltenham. In 1851 he purchased the family's last home in Mill Street Dumfries in order to preserve the house in which his father had died. http://burnsscotland.com/items/c/colonel-william-nicol-burns,-third-son-of-the-poet,-c-1850.aspx