Clan Cunningham Kilt
The dress Cunningham Tartan sett #STWR Ref1200.
Clan Cunningham was a Lowland Family, as opposed to a Highland Clan. Historically, few of the worldly Lowlanders communicated with the Highlanders whom they saw as savage, dangerous and ignorant. Like the ancient Romans, Lowlanders mostly ignored their heathen neighbors to the North. Even the Scottish kings found it difficult to control the Highlanders, so they looked to Lowland families like the Cunninghams and the Earls of Glencairn, for support.
14th Earl (1775-1791): James Cunningham: To Burns enthusiasts, James is the best known of the Cunninghames. As a Representative Peer he had great influence in Edinburgh. On reading the first published work of Robert Burns he became an avid supporter and patron of the bard. It was James who was responsible for the support given to Burns by the Caledonian Hunt who subscribed "one and all" towards the publication of the Edinburgh Edition of the poet's work. James was not blessed with good health and on medical advice he went to Portugal and warmer climates. His journey back from his vacation was abruptly halted at Falmouth where his condition greatly deteriorated and he died there on 30th January, 1791. Burns was greatly affected by the news of his patron's death and his great tribute to James; "Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn", contains all the pathos and emotion of the great poet, Robert Burns for his dear friend, James.
14th Earl (1775-1791): James Cunningham: To Burns enthusiasts, James is the best known of the Cunninghames. As a Representative Peer he had great influence in Edinburgh. On reading the first published work of Robert Burns he became an avid supporter and patron of the bard. It was James who was responsible for the support given to Burns by the Caledonian Hunt who subscribed "one and all" towards the publication of the Edinburgh Edition of the poet's work. James was not blessed with good health and on medical advice he went to Portugal and warmer climates. His journey back from his vacation was abruptly halted at Falmouth where his condition greatly deteriorated and he died there on 30th January, 1791. Burns was greatly affected by the news of his patron's death and his great tribute to James; "Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn", contains all the pathos and emotion of the great poet, Robert Burns for his dear friend, James.
