Burns, Robert, 1759-96, Scottish poet.

Life

The son of a hard-working and intelligent farmer, Burns was the oldest of seven children, all of whom had to help in the work on the farm. Although always hard pressed financially, the elder Burns, until his death in 1784, encouraged his sons with their education. As a result, Burns as a boy not only read the Scottish poetry of Ramsay and the collections compiled by Hailes and Herd, but also the works of Pope, Locke, and Shakespeare. By 1781, Burns had tried his hand at several agricultural jobs without success. Although he had begun writing, and his poems were circulated widely in manuscript, none were published until 1786. At this time he had already begun a life of dissipation, and he was not only discouraged but poor and was involved simultaneously with several women.

Burns decided to marry Mary Campbell and migrate to Jamaica. To help finance the journey, he published at Kilmarnock Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (1786), which was an immediate success. Mary Campbell died before she and Burns could marry, and Burns changed his mind about migration. He toured the Highlands, brought out a second edition of his poems at Edinburgh in 1787, and for two winters was socially prominent in the Scottish city. In 1788 he married Jean Armour, who had borne him four children, and retired to a farm at Ellisland. By 1791 Burns had failed as a farmer, and he moved to nearby Dumfries, where he held a position as an exciseman. He died at 37 after a severe attack of rheumatic fever.

Verse

Burns's art is at its best in songs such as "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton," "My Heart's in the Highlands," and "John Anderson My Jo." Two collections contain 268 of his songs—George Thomson's Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice (6 vol., 1793-1811) and James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum (5 vol., 1787-1803). Some of these, such as "Auld Lang Syne" and "Comin' thro' the Rye," are among the most familiar and best-loved poems in the English language. But his talent was not confined to song; two descriptive pieces, "Tam o' Shanter" and "The Jolly Beggars," are among his masterpieces.

Burns had a fine sense of humor, which was reflected in his satirical, descriptive, and playful verse. His great popularity with the Scots lies in his ability to depict with loving accuracy the life of his fellow rural Scots, as he did in "The Cotter's Saturday Night." His use of dialect brought a stimulating, much-needed freshness and raciness into English poetry, but Burns's greatness extends beyond the limits of dialect. His poems are written about Scots, but, in tune with the rising humanitarianism of his day, they apply to a multitude of universal problems.

(born Jan. 25, 1759, Alloway, Ayrshire, Scot.—died July 21, 1796, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire) National poet of Scotland. The son of a poor farmer, he early became familiar with orally transmitted folk song and tales. His father's farm failed, and a farm he started himself quickly went bankrupt. Handsome and high-spirited, he engaged in a series of love affairs, some of which produced children, and celebrated his lovers in his poems. His Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (1786) brought acclaim but no financial security, and he eventually took a job as an exciseman. He later began collecting and editing hundreds of traditional airs for James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum (1787–1803) and George Thomson's Select Collection of Original Scotish Airs (1793–1818); he substantially wrote many of these songs, though he did not claim them or receive payment for them. Among his best-known songs are “Auld Lang Syne,” “Green Grow the Rashes, O,” “John Anderson My Jo,” “A Red, Red Rose,” and “Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon.” He freely proclaimed his radical opinions, his sympathies with the common people, and his rebellion against orthodox religion and morality.

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Burns is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,248 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Scots poet Robert Burns.

The Town of Burns lies in the northeast corner of Allegany County and northwest of Hornell, New York.

History

The Town of Burns was first settled around 1805. From the beginning Canaseraga was the major settlement in the town. The town was formed in 1826 from part of the Town of Ossian in Livingston County. Most people think the town was named burns because of canaseraga had a big fire that burned the town down, however it was actually named after the Scottish romantic poet, Robert Burns.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.2 square miles (70.4 km²), of which, 27.2 square miles (70.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04% is water.

The north town line is the border of Livingston County, New York, and the east town line is the border of Steuben County, New York.

New York State Route 70 crosses the north part of the town and passes through Canaseraga.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,248 people, 456 households, and 340 families residing in the town. The population density was 45.9 people per square mile (17.7/km²). There were 541 housing units at an average density of 19.9/sq mi (7.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.02% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 456 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,152, and the median income for a family was $37,054. Males had a median income of $32,120 versus $21,181 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,613. About 10.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Burns

• Burns -- The hamlet of Burns is at the eastern town line and was formerly called "DeWittsville."
• Burns Station -- A former community in the town.
• Canaseraga -- The Village of Canaseraga is at the north town line on Route 70 and Canaseraga Creek.
• Canaseraga Creek -- A stream in the northern part of the town and tributary of the Genesee River.
• Garwood -- A hamlet in the northwest corner of the town on Route 70.
• Gas Spring -- A location in the southwest corner of the town.
• Masten Corners -- A location near the western town line.

References

External links

• Town of Burns webpage
• Burns history