Pair of dueling pistols and box given by Robert Burns to his physician
Key details
- Object number
- 3.8557
- Date
- 1780 to 1790
- On display
- No
- Maker
- Wilson
- Object number
- 3.8557
- Date
- 1780 to 1790
- On display
- No
- Maker
- Wilson
Description
Pair of dueling pistols and box given by Robert Burns to his physician Dr. William Maxwell.
Pistols made by Wilson, with escutcheons of skull and crossbones design inlaid, pineapple design trigger guard with the initials 'WM' engraved.
These duelling pistols belonged to the Poet and were given to his physician Dr. William Maxwell (1760-1834) while Burns was on his deathbed in July 1796. The Poet's widow Jean Armour Burns named her last child Maxwell, who was born on the day of her husband's funeral, after Dr. Maxwell.
Object information
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