# Robert Burns

## Biography

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist, widely celebrated as the national poet of Scotland. Born on January 25, 1759, in Alloway, Ayrshire, he was the eldest son of a tenant farmer. Despite his family's modest means, Burns received a good education, fostered by his father's belief in learning. He began writing poetry at a young age, often composing verses while working on the family farm.

Burns's first collection, "Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect," published in 1786, brought him immediate fame. His work explored themes of love, nature, Scottish identity, and social justice, often utilizing the Scots language alongside standard English. He is well-known for numerous poems and songs, including "Auld Lang Syne," "To a Mouse," and "Address to a Haggis." Burns had a complicated personal life, marked by various relationships and financial struggles, even after achieving literary recognition. He died prematurely on July 21, 1796, at the age of 37, but his legacy as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and a cultural icon endures worldwide.

## Books

- [Poems and Songs of Robert Burns](https://samolit.com/books/96242)