John Anderson (friend of Robert Burns)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Anderson (born 1759 Ayrshire – died 1832) was a Scottish carpenter by trade. He was a close friend of Robert Burns and is reputed to have built his coffin in 1796. He is also the subject of a famous poem by Burns, later set to music called "John Anderson My Jo, John".

He is buried in the Protestant graveyard about a mile south of Fort Augustus with a Scottish Heritage plaque. It mentions that he was involved in the wreck of the first British passenger steamship, PS Comet, near Craignesh Point in Argyle in 1820.

The heritage plaque reads:

"John Anderson. My Jo. Friend of Robert Burns Character of one of the most touching of Burns Songs. Gifted by the family of the late Norman Watters Past President of Bowhill People's Burns Club"

The stone reads:

"Sacred to the memory of John Anderson who died at Invergarry the 4 May 1832 Aged 84 years also his daughter Catherine who died at Invergarry the 20 December 1832 aged 52 years Relict of the late James Grearson who was lost in the "Comet" off Gourack Point the 20 Oct 1825 This stone is errected by their affectionate children."

[1]