More Fascinating Facts about the Ploughman Poet

Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) - known in Scotland simply as 'The Bard' - was a poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated right around the world.

But did ye ken...?

The first poem of Burns to make its debut in a newspaper was 'Address to a Haggis' which appeared in the "Caledonian Mercury" on 20 December 1786.

Hounded by the Armour family, Burns resolved to emigrate to Jamaica. To raise the fare he decided to publish his poems, mostly written in 1785 but including pieces going back a decade.

The most prolific period of his life was the nine months from July 1785 to March 1786 when he wrote over 50 poems and songs.

The only letter written by Burns in the vernacular was sent from Carlisle on 1 June 1787, addressed to William Nichol in Edinburgh.

You can find out much more about the Ploughman Poet in Scottish Miscellany - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Scotland the Brave, coming soon from Skyhorse Publishing.