Alexander Cunningham was one of Robert Burns's closest friends from his time in Edinburgh. They stayed in contact, through at least 19 letters from the poet; and Cunningham was the ardent admirer who encouraged and joined others such as John Syme to raise funds for the poet's family after his death. Cunningham was one of the small group of associates whom Burns actively approached for constructive criticism of his work.
Life and character
He was the eldest son of James Cunningham of Hyndhope near Ettrickbridge in the Borders, and the nephew of William Robertson the historian. He practised law in Edinburgh and was a member of the Crochallan Fencibles where he socialised with Burns having met him at Masonic meetings in Edinburgh. As a student he had lived at No.6, St James's Square in Edinburgh and his near neighbours were George Thomson the music publisher, John Beugo the engraver, Robert Ainslie the lawyer and Alexander Nasmyth the painter, all closely associated with Burns's career.
In 1798 he became a Writer to the Signet, but later went into partnership with his uncle Patrick Robertson as a jeweller.
Cunningham courted Anne Stewart of East Craigs, however she married Dr Forrest Dewar in 1788 and the couple had a son and three daughters, having "prostituted her character" as Burns put it. Said to be devastated, he did however in 1792 marry Agnes Moir of Auchtertool, daughter of the Rev Henry Moir and the couple had two sons. Through his wife's dowry he inherited part of a valuable estate in South Carolina. Cunningham died in 1812 and was buried in the Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh.
The San Antonio Museum of Art in Texas holds a portrait of Alexander Cunningham by the famous artist Henry Raeburn.
Association with Robert Burns
Burns probably first met Cunningham at Masonic meetings in Edinburgh as stated. He is listed as a subscriber to one copy in Burns's Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (Edinburgh Edition).
Dugald Stewart, the eminent Scottish philosopher and mathematician, commented that Burns was keeping 'not very select society' however it was a matter of degree, Cunningham, Peter Hill, Ainslie, etc. being respectable, but not of the literati. Robert Ainslie, also training to be a lawyer, was a close friend of Cunningham and Burns.
Burns sent a version of "The Banks o'Doon" on 11 March 1791 inviting his 'strictures,' making him one of very few whose opinion he valued to that extent. He sent many other poems and songs to Cunningham, such as in the autumn of 1794 when he sent him a copy of "A red red Rose". His enclosed works were usually accompanied by letters.
In 1788 Burns said of Cuningham:
It was Cunningham who on 10 April 1792 put Burns's name forward to the Royal Company of Archers for a diploma, probably in recognition of his role in capturing the 100-ton schooner, the Rosamund and her cargo of contraband goods, in the Solway Firth on 29 February 1792.
In September 1792 George Thomson had finalised his plans for his Select Collection of Scottish Airs and it was Cunningham to whom Thomson turned to enlist the services of Robert Burns and in due course a letter of introduction together with details of the proposed publication was winging its way to Burns with positive results.
Robert Burns Junior wrote about life at the Mill Street house in Dumfries, recalling the arrival of the occasional barrel of oysters from Peter Hill the book seller or from Cunningham.
Burns had written to Cunningham on 7 July 1796 saying that he intended that his soon to be born child, if a boy, would be named 'Alexander Cunningham Burns' however Jean Armour seems to have been unaware of this and named their son 'Maxwell Burns' after Dr Maxwell who attended the birth. He was to die on 25 April 1799.
Jean Armour Burns informed John Syme that Burns, on his death bed a day before he expired, was continually calling for him and Cunningham.
The James Armour punch bowl
Of the many surviving Robert Burns artefacts few have such distinguished provenance as the punch bowl that was a nuptial gift in 1788 from James Armour to his daughter Jean and her new husband Robert Burns. As a stone-mason James had carved the bowl himself (22cm x 14cm ) from dark green Inveraray marble and after residing at their various homes, Jean in 1801 presented it to her husband's great friend and Burns family benefactor whilst she was on a visit to Edinburgh and staying with George Thomson. Cunningham had it mounted with a silver base and a rim, engraved upon which are “Ye whom social pleasure charms .. Come to my Bowl! Come to my arms, My FRIENDS, my BROTHERS!” taken from Burns's “The Epistle to J. Lapraik.”