Robert Burns
The Jacobite Uprising attempts to restore a Stewart king to the British throne.
The Burnes (or Burness) family leave Kincardineshire - William goes to Edinburgh.
RB's father moves to Alloway.
William Burnes marries Agnes Brown of Kirkoswald.
25 January: RB born in Alloway.
The family moves to Mount Oliphant, near Alloway.
James Murdoch employed to teach RB.
The American War of Independence begins. The Burns family moves to Lochlie farm.
RB becomes a Freemason; moves to Irvine to learn the trade of flax-dressing.
Death of William Burnes. RB moves his family to Mossgiel and changes the spelling of the family name to Burns; probably meets Jean Armour in this year.
RB completes many of the poems for the Kilmarnock edition including "The Cotter's Saturday Night".
The Kilmarnock edition of RB's poems is published.
Jean Armour gives birth to twins.
death of Highland Mary.
First Edinburgh edition of poems published by William Creech; first volume of the Scots Musical Museum (edited by Burns) published - five more follow.
RB returns to Dumfriesshire and takes lease on Ellisland; marries Jean Armour.
Storming of the Bastille and the start of the French Revolution; RB becomes an Exciseman.
RB gives up Ellisland and moves his family to Dumfries (11 Bank Street).
RB promoted to Dumfries Port Division; on 29 February the smuggling ship Rosamond is seized
The Burns family moves to Mill Vennel, now 24 Burns Street; The Second Edinburgh edition of his poems published by William Creech - this includes "Tam o'Shanter".
King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette are executed in France.
RB promoted to Supervisor; re-issue of the Second Edinburgh edition.
RB joins the Royal Dumfries Volunteers; in September his daughter Elizabeth dies and he becomes gravely ill with rheumatic fever.
Meal Riots in Dumfries; Burns continues to work until June in rapidly deteriorating health.
21 July: dies in Dumfries.
19 September: RB's remains moved to the Mausoleum in St Michael's Kirkyard from their original burial place.
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us
An foolish notion:
What airs in dress an gait wad lea'es us,
An ev'n devotion!