'Overlooked' Scots poet celebrated by literary elite

The University of Glasgow is spearheading celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the death - on October 17 1774 - of one of Scotland's most influential "yet overlooked" poets.

Writing in both Scots and English, one of Fergusson's key themes is the ordinary life of Edinburgh and he depicts the city warts and all in his masterpiece Auld Reikie, which was published the year before his death.

Robert Fergusson had a profound influence on Burns (Image: Getty) Professor Rhona Brown, leading the University of Glasgow's Fergusson project and commemorations, emphasises Fergusson's significance: “Robert Fergusson is one of Scotland's most important poets, but he is often misunderstood.

"Writing in both Scots and English, one of Fergusson's key themes is the ordinary life of Edinburgh, and he depicts the city, warts and all, in his masterpiece, Auld Reikie (1773).

"His poetry is astute and satirical, funny and razor-sharp.”

A statue of 18th century Edinburgh poet Robert Fergusson (Image: University of Glasgow) As part of the tributes, the University of Glasgow College of Arts & Humanities' podcast Stories from Glasgow will offer listeners insights into Fergusson's life and work.

The episode featuring Professor Brown and Dr Amy Wilcockson, available from today, includes discussions about Fergusson’s life, readings from his poetry, and explores his influence on other poets, including Robert Burns.

In the podcast, Professor Brown describes Fergusson as a “poet's poet” who influenced writers like Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Noting Fergusson's profound impact on Burns, Professor Brown said: “The big figure who was deeply influenced by Fergusson is Robert Burns.

"He was influenced by Fergusson in quite a profound way, and we know this because in Burns's autobiographical letter to Dr John Moore of August 1787, he says he had almost given up on poetry completely until he read Fergusson's poetry."

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It is also Burns who erects a stone on Fergusson’s unmarked grave, says Professor Brown, adding: “Burns erects a stone in memory of Fergusson which describes Fergusson as Scotia’s poet and his grave as a place for people who love Scottish poetry to come and pay pilgrimage.”

To commemorate this significant anniversary, a special event - Remembering Robert Fergusson: A Night of Poetry and Music will bring together renowned writers, musicians, and academics on October 17.

While tickets for this unique literary celebration have now nearly sold out, the event highlights the ongoing interest in Fergusson's work and legacy.

Professor Brown will be joined by special guests including Scottish writer and broadcaster Billy Kay, acclaimed authors Andrew O'Hagan and James Robertson, musician David Hamilton and singer Kirsteen McCue, who is also a professor at the University of Glasgow.

The event to honour the city's own poetic son will take place at St Cecilia's Hall in Edinburgh.

Andrew O’Hagan said: “For so many Scottish writers down the generations, Fergusson’s voice has been part of the inner ear, a human warmth, a subtle humour and a beautiful intelligence secreted in the Scots vernacular, and I’ve felt attentive to it all of my writing life.

“I applaud the important work being done on Fergusson at the University of Glasgow, and am honoured to take part in the event at St Cecilia’s to mark the 250th anniversary of his death.

"Fergusson is one of the most important figures in our literary culture and we should celebrate him at every opportunity.”

Billy Kay added: “As an Ayrshire man steeped in the living Burns tradition, it was such a pleasure and a revelation for me to discover what Sydney Goodsir Smith called the “fizzing vitality” of Fergusson’s poetry when I studied Scottish literature at the University of Edinburgh in the early 1970s.

“The love of it inspired me to produce and present a show and an iconic LP record called Fergusson’s Auld Reikie with a group of brilliant traditional musicians. I very much look forward to sharing my experiences with Fergusson for the audience at St Cecilia’s Hall on Thursday.”

The Mitchell Library is hosting a free exhibition, running until October 30.

The event and podcast are both part of the broader initiative by the University of Glasgow, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, called The Works of Robert Fergusson: Reconstructing Textual and Cultural Legacies, which aims to prepare a new edition of Fergusson's complete works for publication by Edinburgh University Press in 2026.