24 Facts About Duncan McNaught

Duncan McNaught was the parochial school teacher at Kilmaurs in East Ayrshire from 1867 and served at the school for over fifty years, having served as assistant from 1865.

Duncan McNaught founded the Kilmarnock Conservative Association, jointly founded the Robert Burns World Federation, acted as the editor of the "Burns Chronicle" and was the president of what became the Robert Burns World Federation.

In 1870 McNaught was approached by Sir William Montgomerie Cunninghame of Corsehill with a request for assistance with the restoration of the 1600 AD monument to the 7th Earl of Glencairn, his countess and their children that stands in the Glencairn Aisle.

Duncan McNaught had a great interest in history and archaeology.

Duncan McNaught died suddenly from a heart attack in 1925.

Duncan McNaught died of heart failure at his home, Benrig, in Kilmaurs on 1 June 1925 at the age of 81.

The funeral of Duncan McNaught was on 4 June 1925 and he was buried in the Kilmaurs 'new' churchyard.

Duncan McNaught privately printed a volume on "The Charters of Kilmaurs" in 1874 and another more substantial volume on the "Kilmaurs Parish and Burgh" in 1912 that covered history, geology, flora, fauna, etc.

In 1909 Duncan supervised the publication of a photogravure facsimile of an uncut copy in his possession of the 'Kilmarnock Edition' of Robert Burns's poems, printed by D Brown in Kilmarnock.

Duncan McNaught published "The Truth About Burns" in 1921 that contained an unpublished letter to James Smith from Robert Burns and an extensive bibliography of the appearances of Burns's poems and notices in contemporary periodicals.

Duncan McNaught was the president for thirteen years, from 1910 to 1923.

Duncan McNaught was the editor of the Robert Burns World Federation's 'Burns Chronicle' from 1893 to 1925, thirty-three years.

Duncan McNaught contributed many articles, including one in 1894 in which he denied the possibility that Burns had been involved in any way with the writing of the Merry Muses although later he was the anonymous editor of an edition published by the Burns Federation.

Duncan McNaught had very strong opinions on publications that claimed to contain poems written by Burns and even compiled and printed a list for use by Burnsians.

Duncan McNaught was a member and president of the Kilmarnock '0' Burns Club and in 1922 he was made an honorary member of the Irvine Burns Club.

Duncan McNaught not only made a lifelong study of Burns's poems but was a student of the Ayrshire dialect and was credited by Sir James Wilson who wrote "The Dialect of Robert Burns as spoken in Central Ayrshire".

Duncan McNaught presided over the presentation and ceremony at Glasgow's Grand Hotel, 27 July 1920, when John Gribbel was able to visit Scotland.

In July 1920 Duncan McNaught presented Gribbel with a copy of the 1909 facsimile edition of the 'Kilmarnock Edition,' the printing of which he had supervised.

John said that he would not leave Ayrshire without these items and made Duncan an offer that was accepted, the amount unknown, on the understanding that they would be kept together under the name The McNaught Collection.

Sadly when John Gribbel died in 1936 his estate was broken up and 'The Duncan McNaught Collection' sold at auction.

Duncan McNaught was the president of the 'Album Committee' and the album was presented at a tribute dinner held at Glasgow in 1920.

The Burns Exhibition of 1896 was held in the galleries of 'The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts' in Glasgow and Duncan McNaught was a member of the Executive Committee, writing the forward to the 'Memorial Catalogues' section on 'Burns Relics'.

Duncan McNaught figured in the 'Kilmaurs Case' that involved the Reverend Alexander Inglis, minister of Kilmaurs Parish who was accused in 1885 of behaving inappropriately towards Elizabeth Mackie, nee Dunlop, the 36 year old wife of the Kilmaurs miller, John Mackie.

Duncan McNaught was a frequent visitor and an unsuccessful attempt was made by the defence to tarnish Elizabeth's name through suggestions that Duncan McNaught had acted with impropriety towards her.