1. Agnes Maclehose was born in Glasgow, the third of four daughters of a prominent surgeon, Andrew Craig.
15 Facts About Agnes Maclehose
1. 2.
Agnes Maclehose was a sickly child, however from the age of five her health improved and she developed into an exceptionally good looking woman, being indeed the toast of Glasgow's Hodge Podge Club at the age of 15.
3.
Agnes Maclehose was at first assisted by charitable contributions from the Writers in Glasgow and the Surgeons in Glasgow but these payments ceased when her husband was found to be financially secure.
4.
In 1810 Agnes Maclehose moved from Potterrow to live at 14 Calton Hill, Edinburgh where in 1825 Burns's fourth son, Captain James Glencairn Burns, visited her.
5.
Agnes Maclehose died of old age on 23 October 1841 and was buried on 27th in the north-east corner of the tomb of her cousin William Craig, Lord Craig, in the East Ground of Canongate Kirkyard.
6.
When Robert Burns came to Edinburgh, still unmarried, for the second time in 1787, Agnes Maclehose was in her 29th year and separated from her husband for seven years.
7.
Agnes Maclehose was attracted to him and upon her return home she wrote Burns a note inviting him to drink tea with her the following Thursday at her house on General's Entry on the west side of Potterrow.
8.
At Christmas, they exchanged verse, Agnes Maclehose's poem revealing her feelings about her unhappy marriage, whilst at the same time reminding Burns about the ultimate barriers which could not be crossed:.
9.
Robert married Jean Armour within six weeks of this letter, something Agnes Maclehose had urged him to do, a fact however which he left his friend Robert Ainslie to tell her.
10.
Agnes Maclehose was careful to retain control of the letters after Burns's death.
11.
Jean Armour was well aware of her husband's fondness for Agnes Maclehose and knew that he corresponded regularly with her.
12.
Agnes Maclehose's mistress sent her to deliver a letter to the poet and he seduced her.
13.
The John Miers silhouette of Agnes Maclehose was made for Burns and was still in his possession at the time of his death.
14.
Agnes Maclehose made a garment for young Robert or "Little Bobbie" and Burns gave this to him upon his return from Edinburgh in 1788.
15.
Agnes Maclehose was the son of the celebrated mathematician, Colin McLaurin.