East Kilbride Probus Club were given a talk on the times of national Bard, Robert Burns, at their latest talk.
President Ray Jones opened the meeting, carried out the club business and then introduced the speaker Mr Allan Stevenson.
Allan is along serving member of the EK Probus and a renowned officiado on the Scottish poet Robert Burns.
In his opening remarks he said that much was spoken of Burns and of his life and the influence that he had, but rarely was it covered about the era that he lived in which was in fact the beginning of the Scottish Enlightenment.
This began roughly in the 18th century to the early 19th century eventually leading on the Industrial Revolution.
Burns lived 1759 to 1796, and was born only some thirteen years after Culloden.
The reigning king was George III and elsewhere the French Revolution and American Revolution were underway – The Boston Tea Party was 1773 leading to the Declaration of Independence in America.
Adam Smith was writing his Wealth of Nations and Thomas Paine published in 1791 his Rights of Man.
At the same time, Sir Walter Scott was writing about the life of Napoleon and Dr Smollet –born on a farm near Balloch by Loch Lomond was gaining fame as a novelist and satirist.
Musically both Heiden and Mozart were composing and Alexander Naismith painted the now famous portrait of Robert Burns.
In science, Cavendish discovered Hydrogen, and Rutherford discovered Nitrogen.
Thomas Telford, Scottish Engineer, was born 1757 and John Macadam (tarmacadam inventor) was born in Ayr and Charles Macintosh was inventing waterproofing.
In Britain, Elizabeth Fry was reforming prisons and in far-off Italy Bonnie prince Charlie died in 1778
The run through of Scottish /British history in the 18th century scratched the surface but illustrated the exciting times in whish Robert Burns lived, created and died.
He was amongst all these ‘Greats’ of famous names and events and stood out in the literary fields then and still does today. All by the young age of 37 when he died.
John Walker gave the Vote of thanks then asked the members to show their appreciation.
The meeting was closed by Mr Jones who wished everybody safe home.
To find out more, contact the Secretary, Mr Eddie Holmes at 01355 234 942.
The next meeting will be on March 2 in Glebe Street Hall in EK with a topic on ‘In Search of Polar Bears’ from Mz Heather Kerr.
For further information access the EK Probus website.
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