James Smith (draper) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids James Smith
Poosie Nansies in 1900.
Born	1 March 1765 Mauchline parish
Died	circa 1823 Jamaica or St Lucia
Occupation	Draper

James Smith of Mauchline was a very close friend of the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. He was born in 1765 in Mauchline, Scotland. His father, Robert Smith, was a successful local merchant. When James was only ten years old in 1775, his father sadly died in a horse riding accident. His mother, Jean Smith, later married James Lamie, who owned the house next door.

Life and Times
Friendship with Robert Burns
Images for kids
See also

Life and Times

The Kilmarnock Edition of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect

After his father passed away, James's mother remarried in 1777. Her new husband, James Lamie, was a church elder known for being very strict. He tried to give James a serious upbringing. However, it seems James Lamie didn't always approve of James or his friends.

James Smith had a sister named Jean Smith. She was born in 1768 and lived until 1854. Jean was one of the "Mauchline Belles," a group of young women mentioned in Robert Burns's poems. She later married Dr. James Candlish, who was a childhood friend of Burns.

James Smith ran a shop that sold fabrics and clothes (a drapery shop) in his old family home. This shop was right across from Nanse Tunnock's place. His home and shop were later taken down in 1820 when a new road was built.

People described James Smith as a fun-loving and sometimes mischievous young man. He was kind and good-natured, but he loved having fun and playing pranks. One story tells how his stepfather, Mr. Lamie, once got upset about James's late hours. He even threw James's shoes across the room, saying James could clean them himself!

By the end of 1785, James left Mauchline. He became a partner in a company that printed patterns on fabric (calico-printing) near Linlithgow. But this business didn't do well.

In 1788, James Smith traveled by ship to either Jamaica or St Lucia. He eventually passed away on one of these islands. The exact date and place of his death are not officially known. Some sources say he died around 1808, while others suggest it was closer to 1823.

Friendship with Robert Burns

James Smith met Robert Burns through their friend John Richmond. Along with William Hunter, a tanner, these four became very close friends. They were known as "ram-stam boys," meaning they were lively and a bit wild. They formed a fun, mock group called the 'Court of Equity' at the Whitefoord Arms pub.

In this 'court,' Burns was the 'Perpetual President,' and James Smith was the 'Procurator Fiscal' (like a prosecutor). William Hunter was the 'Messenger at Arms,' and Richmond was the 'Clerk of the Court.' They would meet to playfully discuss local gossip and decide what "punishments" each "crime" deserved. Burns even wrote a funny poem called the Libel Summons, where he received a mock summons to appear before their court.

It's believed that James Smith, John Richmond, and Robert Burns were at Poosie Nancie's Inn in Mauchline. They saw a group of happy beggars having a great time. This scene inspired Burns to write his famous poem Love and Liberty, also known as The Jolly Beggars.

The Jolly Beggars by Isaac Cruikshank

James Smith was also a big supporter of Burns's work. He helped gather people to buy copies of Burns's first book of poems, the 'Kilmarnock Edition.' Smith helped get 41 copies sold!

Poem: For a Wag in Mauchline

Robert Burns wrote this short poem for James Smith. It's a playful poem about how much James was missed in Mauchline.

LAMENT ‘im Mauchline husbands a',
He aften did assist ye;
For had ye staid whole weeks awa,
Your wives they ne'er had miss'd ye.

Ye Mauchline bairns, as on ye pass
To school in bands thegither,
O tread ye lightly on his grass,
Perhaps he was your father.

Poem: Epistle "To James Smith"

This longer poem was written by Burns in 1785. It was included in his famous 1786 book, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect. Here are the first three parts of the poem:

"Dear S****, the sleest, pawkie thief,
That e'er attempted stealth or rief,
Ye surely hae some warlock-breef
Owre human hearts;
For ne'er a bosom yet was prief
Against your arts.

For me, I swear by sun an' moon,
And ev'ry star that blinks aboon,
Ye've cost me twenty pair o' shoon,
Just gaun to see you;
And ev'ry ither pair that's done,
Mair taen I'm wi' you.

That auld, capricious carlin, Nature,
To mak amends for scrimpet stature,
She's turn'd you off, a human creature
On her first plan,
And in her freaks, on ev'ry feature,
She's wrote, the Man.

Letters from Burns

James Lamie's house.

Robert Burns often wrote letters to James Smith, sharing his thoughts and plans.

In February 1786, Burns wrote to his friend Richmond, saying that James Smith was his closest friend in Mauchline at that time. He also mentioned he had important, though not very pleasant, news about himself that he would share later.

On July 30, 1786, Burns wrote to Richmond from a hiding place. He said he was planning to leave Britain forever and travel to Jamaica on a ship called the Nancy. He asked Richmond to keep this a secret from everyone in Mauchline, except for their good friend James Smith.

Around August 1, 1786, Burns wrote to Smith about his plans. He also mentioned that his travel plans had changed. Friends told him the trip to Jamaica would cost too much, so he would have to wait for a cheaper ship from Greenock in September.

The Abbot's Tower and Gavin Hamilton's house at Mauchline.

On June 11, 1787, Burns wrote to Smith from Mauchline. He expressed his disappointment with the behavior of Jean Armour's family.

On June 30, Burns wrote to Smith again. He told him a funny story about a horse race he had on his horse, Jenny Geddes. He fell during the race, which delayed his trip back to Edinburgh.

Full view of the Naysmith portrait of 1787, Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Images for kids

William Auld's memorial and James Lamie's grave to the left

James Smith (draper) facts for kids

Contents