Robert Burns, one of Scotland's most famous figures, is thought to have visited Glasgow five times before his death in 1796.
His earliest connection to Glasgow was through the Tennant family, specifically John Tennant of Glenconner Farm, who was the next-door neighbour to Burns' father, William Burness, when the family leased a market garden at Alloway.
Shortly after Burns' birth, a violent storm destroyed the roof of the two-roomed cottage William had built on the site. The Tennants provided shelter to the Burns family until William could rebuild.
John Tennant later became factor to the Earl of Glencairn, and it was his fourth son, Charles, or "Wabster Charlie" as Burns called him, who established the link to Glasgow. Charles, a skilled weaver, patented a successful bleaching process, which led him to build a factory at St. Rollox that featured the largest chimney stack in Europe. He and his family lived in a grand mansion in Blythswood Square, and he was a prominent advocate of the Reform Movement.
Today, some of the Glasgow locations Burns visited can still be seen, including his statue prominently situated in the city centre at George Square.
1. The Saracen Head
According to urban legend, the pub once played host to Robert Burns on his trips to Glasgow - and even once displayed a handwritten poem by the Bard. The current Saracen Head is the fourth rendition of the pub, with the first on the Gallowgate, second on the corner of St Mungo Lane and the third at the corner of Saracen Lane, next to where the original first stood. The present Saracen Head, across from the Barrowlands, opened its doors to thirsty punters in the east end back in 1904. | Contributed
2. Black Bull Inn
Burns is known to have stayed at the Black Bull Inn on Argyle Street on two occasions between 1787 and 1791. It was here he wrote one of his famous letters to Clarinda (Nancy McLehose) and where he also met with his old sea-faring friend from Irvine, Richard Brown, the man who first put into the head of young Burns, the idea of being a poet in print. | Old Glasgow Pubs
3. Saltmarket
Glasgow was the birthplace of Nancy McElhose who was born Nancy Craig in 1759, the subject of Burns' love song Ae Fond Kiss, who was brought up in the Saltmarket. | Glasgowist
4. George Square
A bronze statue of Robert Burns was unveiled in George Square on 25 January 1877. Baillie Wilson co-ordinated the efforts of a small committee led by Dr. Hedderwick and including John Browne, whose idea it had been to erect a statue to Burns on a shilling subscription basis. 40,000 Glaswegians responded and more than £2,000 was raised with 30,000 people turning up for the ceremony. | Glasgowist