Jean Armour
Although Robert Burns had many other loves in his life, he always returned to his long-suffering wife, Jean Armour.
Jean bore Robert nine children, only three of whom survived infancy: Robert Burns Junior (1786); William Nicol Burns (1791); and James Glencairn Burns (1794). One of those who did not reach childhood was his last son, Maxwell - born on the day of his father’s funeral: father and son - spirits passing in the night?
Maxwel died in 1799, just a few months short of his third birthday.
Jean knew that her husband had a roving eye, but showed more understanding than any man might reasonably expect. Despite his philanderings and the inevitable scattering of other offspring (three of his dalliances produced illegitimate offspring), Jean remained constant to Burns until they were parted by his death.
‘Of A' The Airts The Wind Can Blaw’ - 1788 Robert Burns
“Of a' the airts the wind can blaw, I dearly like the west, For there the bonie lassie lives, The lassie I lo'e best:
There’s no’ a bonie floo’r that springs, By fountain, shaw or green. There’s no’ a bonie bird that sings But minds me o’ my Jean.”
