John Anderson

Who was John Anderson?

John Anderson was a Scottish carpenter by trade. He was a close friend of Robert Burns and is reputed to have built his coffin in 1796. He is also the subject of a famous poem by Burns, later set to music called "John Anderson My Jo, John."

He is buried in Kilchuimen Burial Ground, Fort Augustus with a Scottish Heritage plaque. It mentions that his son in law was killed in the wreck of an early British passenger steamship, PS Comet II, near Gourock in 1825.

The heritage plaque reads:

"John Anderson. My Jo. Friend of Robert Burns Character of one of the most touching of Burns Songs. Gifted by the family of the late Norman Watters Past President of Bowhill People's Burns Club"

The stone reads:

"Sacred to the memory of John Anderson who died at Invergarry the 4 May 1832 Aged 84 years also his daughter Catherine who died at Invergarry the 20 December 1832 aged 52 years Relict of the late James Grearson who was lost in the "Comet" off Gourack Point the 20 Oct 1825 This stone is erected by their affectionate children."

Despite the claim recorded in the heritage plaque above, Burns' poem is based on an earlier poem of the same title and metre: