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Letter from Robert Burns to John Richmond, 17 February 1786
John Richmond was a close friend of Robert Burns from his Mauchline days who became a lawyer in Edinburgh and with whom Burns conducted an active correspondence.
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Jean Armour is sent to Paisley by her family after the affair between her and Robert Burns is discovered.
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Robert Burns begins an affair with Margaret ‘Mary’ Campbell (also known as Highland Mary).
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Robert Burns writes to David Bryce, describing his plans to move to Jamaica and that he believes he has been abandoned by Jean Armour.
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Robert Burns writes to John Richmond about his planned emigration to Jamaica. Burns had been offered the job of bookkeeper on the Springbank plantation in Port Antonio through his friend Dr Patrick Douglas.
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Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro premieres in Vienna.
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The last meeting takes place between Mary Campbell and Robert Burns, where they exchange marriage vows and bibles. She is reportedly pregnant.
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Robert Burns is recalled to Mauchline Kirk (Church) to admit his affair with Jean Burns, who is also pregnant with twins. James Armour (Jean’s father) offers a warrant for Burns’s arrest. Burns goes into hiding.
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Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect is published through subscription in Kilmarnock. 612 copies are printed, costing 3 shillings each.
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Astronomer Caroline Herschel becomes the first woman to be credited with discovering a comet.
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Robert Burns informs John Richmond that he has missed the sailing of the Nancy, the first of three ships he booked on to sail to Jamaica.
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Jean Armour gives birth to twins, Robert and Jean Burns.
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Letter from Robert Burns to John Richmond, 27 September 1786
John Richmond was a close friend of Robert Burns from his Mauchline days who became a lawyer in Edinburgh and with whom Burns conducted an active correspondence.