David Lloyd George at Burns Mausoleum

A monochrome photographic print of the former Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader at the grave of Robert Burns.   David Lloyd George made a visit to Dumfries in October 1925. He had been Prime Minister in the Coalition government during the First World War and was still a very popular figure. He gave a speech in the town's drill hall to a capacity audience. In this photograph he is visiting the grave of Robert  Burns, Scotland's national poet, at the mausoleum in St Michael's Churchyard, Dumfries.   Robert Burns was originally buried in St Michael's Churchyard, Dumfries, in a simple grave, marked only by a plain stone slab. His admirers came to believe that this was an insufficient memorial to the poet. In 1813 his friend, John Syme formed a committee and launched an appeal to build a mausoleum in his memory. One of the subscribers was the Prince Regent, later George IV. The mausoleum was completed in September 1817.   Many distinguished people have visited the mausoleum to pay their respects to Robert Burns and to place wreaths on his grave as part of the programme of their official visits to Dumfries.