Scottish public servant and teacher from a noted family, the first son and one of the first pair of twins born to the poet Robert Burns and his wife Jean Armour.
His twin sister was Jean Burns, who died of unknown causes in infancy on 20 October 1787. His father, who often called him ‘Bobbie’, died when Robert Junior was only 9 years old.
His parents Robert and Jean were not formally married and Robert Junior was taken in by other family members.
Robert Junior’s siblings were Jean (b. 3 March 1788); William Nicol (b. 9 April 1791); James Glencairn (b. 12 August 1794); Elizabeth Riddell (b. 21 November 1792); Francis Wallace (b. 1789) and Maxwell (b. 25 July 1796). Short lived un-named twin girls were born on 3 March 1788.
Robert Junior had a superior memory, was a proficient musician, had a good singing voice and did try his hand at writing English verse, however his efforts lacked the ability, the genius and the fire of his father.
The Prime Minister was induced to offer him a position in the Stamp Office in the Strand, London, then part of the Treasury, where he worked for twenty-seven years without receiving any promotion. Robert Burns II retired in 1833 aged only forty-six and moved to live in Dumfries on a small pension.
He added to his income by teaching mathematics and classics whilst living in London and in Dumfries.
Robert Junior fell into debt and was advised to retire early because of his marital situation and because of his repeated gambling debts.
Aged 22 Robert Burns Junior married Anne Sherwood on 24 March 1809 at St Marylebone Parish Church and the couple had a daughter, Eliza.
Robert separated from Anne Sherwood Burns circa 1820 and lived with a common-law wife Emma Bland, the couple having four children, Jessie (b.1827); Frances (b.1829); Jane Emma (b.1831) and Robert Burns III (b.1833) in London and Dumfries.
Robert Burns Junior died on 14 May 1857 at age 70 in Mauchline, Scotland.
Link to Wikipedia biography