Robert Burns Statue in Boston's Winthrop Square Honors Famed Scottish Poet

Scotland's poet and bard Robert Burns (January 25, 1759 – July 21,1796) is honored in Boston with a statue at Winthrop Square in Boston's Financial District.

Best known for composing the unofficial anthem to New Year's Eve, Auld Lang Syne, Burns was a prolific poet who wrote over 300 poems, as well as various epistles and ballads. He was prolific in other ways too, fathering fourteen children.

The Boston statue was created by sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson and was unveiled by Governor Calvin Coolidge on January 1, 1920. It was originally unveiled in the Fens, near the Westland Avenue entrance, not far from the John Boyle O'Reilly Memorial to Ireland's famous 19th century poet.

The statue was moved to Winthrop Square in 1975 where it remains today. It depicts Burns walking with his collie and a book of poetry in his hand.

Kitson was a well-regarded artist who created a number of important statues in Boston, including the memorial to Patrick Collins, which is part of Boston's Irish Heritage Trail.

For details on Irish and Scottish cultural activities in greater Boston visit IrishBoston.org

For tourist information visit MassVacation.com and BostonUSA.com

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Irish Boston History & Heritage

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