Burns in Edinburgh, 1787

A large chromolithograph taken from the painting by Charles Martin Hardie.   Following the success of the Kilmarnock edition of his poems, Robert Burns revised his plans to emigrate to Jamaica and turned his path towards Edinburgh. He was encouraged by James Cunningham, the 13th Earl of Glencairn, who had read his poems and greatly enjoyed them.   When Burns arrived in Edinburgh in 1786 the Earl received him warmly and introduced him to his circle of friends. This opened many doors to the poet and Burns described the Earl as his "titular Protector". Through him he met Henry Erskine, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, who in turn introduced him to Jane, Duchess of Gordon who invited him to several of her drawing room parties.   Burns spent some time in Edinburgh during 1787 where he was acclaimed as a poet. The 3,000 copies of his first Edinburgh edition, dedicated to the gentlemen of the Caledonian Hunt, sold rapidly and he was popular in Edinburgh Society.