17 April – the Edinburgh edition ofRobert Burns'Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect is published by William Creech including a portrait of Burns byAlexander Nasmyth. The poet has great social success in the city's literary circles; 16-year-oldWalter Scott meets him at the house ofAdam Ferguson. Burns also writes the first version of "The Battle of Sherramuir" this year.
4 December – Burns meetsAgnes Maclehose at a party given by Miss Erskine Nimmo.[4]