Like the rest of her family, Caroline was not only a keen Jacobite but her first name had been borrowed from Prince Charlie. Although a delicate child, she blossomed out in her teens as "the
pretty Miss Car" and became a striking beauty as a woman. Born Caroline Oliphant, she obtained her title through marriage to Lord Nairne. Her own family, who had been in Perthshire since the 13th century, claimed a relationship to royalty.

What she is remembered for is her delightful "Annie Laurie", which many people assume to be written by Robert Burns. In fact, Lady Nairne was one of the first 'respectable' Scots to see the talent of Burns, and she persuaded her brother to help Burns's first book into print. Burns's attempt to use more 'refined' English for the words to old Scottish melodies encouraged Caroline to do some of her own writing, so she sought some standard tunes to apply to her muse. Lady Nairne
was prey to a compulsion common to Scottish writers: she hid her identity behind a pen-name, Mrs. Bogan of Bogan. She had her work "The Scottish Minstrel" published in Edinburgh. Her lyrics included "the Laird o'Cockpen", "Wha'll be King but Charlie", "Charlie is my Darling", "The Hundred Pipers", "The Land o' the Leal" and "Bonny Charlie's Noo Awa".

However, the big legacy left by this delightful lady, known to her neighbours as "the Flower of Strathearn", remains "Annie Laurie", which belongs to no-one but Lady Nairne. Charlie's Noo Awa".

However, the big legacy left by this delightful lady, known to her neighbours as "the Flower of Strathearn", remains "Annie Laurie", which belongs to no-one but Lady Nairne.

Source: Leo van de Pas