The Death of Burns

While Robert and his family were living in Dumfries he got quite ill. His wife, Jean Armour, asked a good friend of hers, Jessie Lewars, to look after him. She did this because she had five children to look after and she was pregnant. Jessie looked after Robert very well. Dr. Maxwell prescribed mercury for Robert, which we now know is poisonous. Robert had re-occurring rheumatic fever. He sometimes went to work but that was not a good idea as he was ill. His illness grew worse. Robert wrote words to go with one of Jessie's favourite tunes. He saw the Doctor again who said that he should bathe in the sea. Robert went to the Solway Firth for a few weeks. He wrote to friends asking for money to pay debts.

Burns died at home with his family on July 12th, 1796. Jean had Robert’s baby boy.after he had died. Five years after his death nine men held a celebration of Robert's life at Alloway. It was the first Burns Supper.