AGNES CRAIG

Biographical Summary

Mr. Andrew Craig, a Glasgow surgeon in the second half of the eighteenth century, has had the fate — probably about the last he himself would have coveted — to have his name perpetuated, not in virtue of his own modest worth, but as the father of a daughter who figures somewhat questionably as one of the many " flames " of Robert Burns, the Scottish poet. Agnes Craig was the " Clarinda " of the bard ; and her name frequently occurs in the Records of the Faculty. She was married early to a Glasgow lawyer of the name of James Maclehose ; but the union was unhappy. Her husband left her and went to the West Indies, whence he eventually returned with a fortune. The abandoned wife went back to her father's house, and remained there with her children till his death in 1782. On this happening she applied to the Faculty to be placed on their list of pensioners. This was done, and her name figures in the accounts as receiving £8 yearly up to 1787-88, the year, by the way in which she met Burns. The pension was then discontinued, the reason stated being that she had a stronger claim on the Faculty of Procurators, of which her husband had been a member, and also that she had a private income of her own. Though an application was made for the renewal of the pension, it was not granted. By this time she had removed to Edinburgh, where she met the poet. in which she met Burns. The pension was then discontinued, the reason stated being that she had a stronger claim on the Faculty of Procurators, of which her husband had been a member, and also that she had a private income of her own. Though an application was made for the renewal of the pension, it was not granted. By this time she had removed to Edinburgh, where she met the poet. Memorials: 121-2

Biographical Summary by Wikipedia

Agnes Maclehose, or Agnes Craig, known to her friends as 'Nancy' and to Robert Burns followers as Clarinda. The pseudonyms of her <strong>'Clarinda'</strong> to his 'Sylvander' were adopted by the pair for confidential correspondence purposes. Maclehose has been various styled, including 'McLehose' and 'MacLehose'. Robert Burns had an unconsumated affair with her during 1787-88, on which he based the song, "Ae Fond Kiss" (1791). Agnes was born in Glasgow, the third of four daughters of a prominent surgeon, Andrew Craig. Her mother was Christian Maclaurin or McLaurin (d. 1767), daughter of John Maclaurin, a minister of the Scottish church. Her sisters were Margaret (b. January 27, 1752), Lilias (b. July 25, 1754), and Mary (b. May 11, 1764) . . . . . . . . . . A young Glasgow lawyer, James Maclehose (c.1754-1812), courted her, however for some reason he was forbidden to enter the Craig family home by Agnes's father.James found ways of meeting with her, one of which was by making himself the only other occupant of a Glasgow to Edinburgh coach in which she was booked to travel for a ten hour journey, by the simple expedient of purchasing all the other seats. In spite of the objections of her father and her first cousin William Craig (1745–1813), later Lord Craig, a Court of Session judge. Agnes married in Glasgow at the age of eighteen on July 1, 1776. Wikipedia

Genealogy

1. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae. The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation. By Hew Scott, D.D. New Edition. Volume III. Synod of Glasgow and Ayr (Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1920), 535 pp. including indices
2. Memorials of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, 1599-1850; with a sketch of the rise and progress of the Glasgow Medical School and of the medical profession in the West of Scotland, By Alexander Duncan, B.A. Lond., Librarian of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. (James Maclehose and Sons, Glasgow, 1896) 307 pp. including index