Chapter I: Ayrshire

1759. _Jan. 25._ Robert Burns born at Alloway; eldest son of William
Burnes (1721-1784) and his wife Agnes Broun (1732-1820). The
other children were Gilbert (1760-1827), Agnes (1762-1834),
Anabella (1764-1832), William (1767-1790), John (1769-1785),
and Isabella (1771-1858).

1765. Robert and Gilbert sent to school to John Murdoch.

1766. William Burnes rents Mt. Oliphant farm.

1768. Murdoch gives up Alloway school. The _Titus Andronicus_
incident.

1772. Robert and Gilbert attend Dalrymple parish school, week about,
during summer quarter.

1773. Robert studies grammar and French with Murdoch for three weeks;
writes his first song, ‘Handsome Nell’, for Nellie Kilpatrick.

1774. Hard times begin at Mt. Oliphant.

1775. Burns attends Hugh Rodger’s school at Kirkoswald.

1777. At Whitsun William Burnes moves from Mt. Oliphant to Lochlie.

1779. Burns joins a dancing class ‘in absolute defiance’ of his
father’s commands.

1780. The Tarbolton Bachelors’ Club organized.

1781. Burns courts Alison Begbie. His father’s dispute with David
M’Lure, his landlord, begins. Burns joins the Freemasons, and
about midsummer goes to Irvine as a flax-dresser.

1782. _Jan. 1._ The Irvine shop burnt out; soon after, Burns returns
to Lochlie.

_Sept. 24._ William Burnes’s dispute referred to arbiters.

1783. _Jan._ Burns wins a £3 prize for flax-seed.

_April._ Burns begins his Commonplace Book.

_May 17._ M’Lure gets a writ of sequestration against William
Burnes.

_Aug. 18._ The ‘Oversman’ reports in Burnes’s favor.

_Aug. 25._ Burnes makes first appeal to Court of Session.

Autumn. Robert and Gilbert secretly arrange to rent Mossgiel.

1784. _Jan. 27._ The Court of Session upholds William Burnes.

_Feb. 13._ Death of William Burnes. The family moves to
Mossgiel.

1785. _May 22._ Birth of Elizabeth, the poet’s daughter by Elizabeth
Paton.

_Nov. 1._ Burial of John Burns, the poet’s youngest brother.
During this year Burns began to write his satires, composed
‘The Jolly Beggars’, and in Oct. finished his first Commonplace
Book. He also met Jean Armour.

1786. _Jan._ (?). Burns plans migration to Jamaica.

_April 3._ ‘Proposals’ for the Kilmarnock _Poems_ sent to press.

_c. April 23._ James Armour repudiates Burns as a son-in-law.

_May 12._ Supposed date of composing ‘The Court of Equity’.

_May 14._ Supposed date of farewell to Highland Mary.

_July 9._ Burns’s first penitential appearance in church.

_July 22._ Burns transfers his share in Mossgiel to Gilbert.

_July 30._ Burns in hiding from James Armour’s writ.

_July 31._ The Kilmarnock _Poems_ published.

_c. Sept. 1._ First postponement of Jamaica voyage.

_Sept. 3._ Jean Armour bears twins, who are christened Robert
and Jean.

_c. Sept. 27._ Second postponement of Jamaica voyage.

_Oct. 23._ Burns dines at Catrine House.

End of _Oct._ Abandonment of Jamaica plans.

_Nov. 27._ Burns sets out for Edinburgh.

_Dec. 1._ Elizabeth Paton accepts Burns’s settlement of her
claim.