The Italian "daredevil Aeronaut" Vincenzo Lunardi created a sensation when he made a number of dramatic balloon journeys across Scotland in 1785. In October of that year, all business was suspended and more than 80,000 people gathered as Lunardi took off from the grounds of George Heriot's Hospital and soared across the Firth of Forth landing in Ceres in Fife.

In his second journey, Lothian Tam - a local character and enthusiastic fan - got too close and became entangled in the balloon's ropes and was carried 20 feet into the air.

On another journey, Lunadri, a secretary to Prince Carmanico, the Neapolitan ambassador in London, plunged into the sea and had to be rescued.

His grand air balloon - made from 1,500 feet of green, pink and yellow silk - was exhibited in Glasgow Cathedral and could be viewed for one shilling. Soon women were wearing two-foot-high Lunadri bonnets in his honour and Lunardi skirts decorated with balloon motifs. Robert Burns, in his poem, To a Louse, wrote about a young woman called Jenny, who had a louse scampering in her Lunardi bonnet.

The Scotsman, 17th November 2006

Vincenzo Lunardi (1759 - 1806) was a Freemason having been Initiated in The Lodge of Kelso, No.58. He subsquently became a member of Lodge Roman Eagle, No.160 in Edinburgh. Both Lodges continue to meet in Kelso and Edinburgh. Robert Burns (1759 - 1796) was also a Freemason. He was in Intiated in Lodge St. James (Kilwinning) Tarbolton, No.135 and which also continues to meet in Tarbolton. Burns was an ardent Freemason and was a member of five Lodges in total. It is not known if Burns was aware that Lunardi was a Freemason when he wrote To a Louse but one suspects not as he may have made more of the fact had he been so aware.