Robert Graham

Robert Graham of Fintry was the 12th Laird of Fintry near Dundee and was one of Robert Burns's most supportive patrons, correspondent and loyal associate. Appointed a Commissioner of the Scottish Board of Excise he assisted Burns with his Excise career and during his 'loyalty' difficulties. He was a great admirer of his poetry and Burns wrote several epistles to him. Burns referred to him as "Friend of my Life - True Patron of my Rhymes." Life and character He was the son of Robert Graham, 11th Laird of Fintry who died in October 1756 when Robert junior was only seven. He was tutored and then educated in Haddington, followed by St Andrews University. In 1770 he took over and managed the family estate in the old county of Forfarshire until in 1780 he was forced to sell the property because of financial difficulties, although a condition of the sale was that he retained his title. For a time he was the factor to Archibald Douglas of Douglas and the Earl of Strathmore, managing their lands in Forfar and Perth. He was appointed in 1787 as a Commissioner of the Scottish Board of Excise. On 12 April 1773 he married Margaret Elizabeth Mylne of Mylnfield, his second cousin, and the couple went on have no fewer than ten daughters and four sons. He died aged 65 in 1815. He was related to Sir Robert Graham of Strathcarron and John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee, Bluidy Clavers, persecutor of the Covenanters. Graham was a Whig rather than a Tory and had Jacobite sentiments. His Edinburgh address was George Street.