Think you know about “Robbie Burns”? Er, who’s that?

The famous Scottish bard, the Ayrshire ploughman, the people’s poet – Robert Burns was called many things – but was not known by the contraction, “Robbie” in his lifetime. Nor Rabbie. He was known as Robert, or Rob; and he refers to himself as Rantin’ Robin in a poem, but Robbie was a later, sentimental invention.

The great Romantic poet died aged just 37 from a complication of dental surgery resulting in blood poisoning and aggravation of his long-standing rheumatic heart condition. The image of the alcoholic philanderer was wide of the mark. Like many a man of the time, and since, Rob enjoyed life’s pleasures, but was no brute. The Edinburgh literati worked to sentimentalise Burns during his life and after his death, dismissing his education by calling him a “heaven-taught ploughman”. The truth is that Burns, while not of aristocratic birth, was certainly schooled and had a firm grasp of literature and classics.

Despite his tragically short life, Burns has had arguably more worldwide influence than any other poet. His themes of freedom, fraternity and love, being masterfully presented, have won him admirers in every country. When asked to say which lyric or verse was the greatest influence on his own work, Bob Dylan chose “My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose,” by Burns.

Burns night is the celebration of his life and work, marked each 25th of January on the poet’s birthday. Burns suppers are held round the world, with readings and songs and of course the famous haggis, tatties and neeps.

In 2009, in a poll by Scottish Television, Robert Burns was voted by his own countrymen as the Greatest Ever Scot, narrowly beating William Wallace  into second place.

More iformation on wikipedia