The Immortal Memory
In 1823 the cenotaph on the banks of the Doon at Alloway, Burns’ birthplace, was completed at a cost of £3300. In 1844 a huge festival in his honour was held at Alloway, presided over by the Earl of Eglinton. The centenaries of his birth in 1859 and his death in 1896 saw nationwide celebrations.

Burns Centenary, 1859	Burns Centenary, 1896

Over the years floods of biographies have been written on the poet’s life and many anthologies of his songs and poems have been published. There are many statues to him all over the world, the one in Dumfries by Mrs D.O. Hill being unveiled in 1882. His works have been translated into many languages and there is a particular interest in him in Canada, the Soviet Union and Japan.