James Burnes (1801–1862)

Scottish Freemason and Empire Builder

Authors

  • Simon Deschamps Université Toulouse—Jean Jaurès

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jrff.31864

Keywords:

British Empire, India, freemasonry, biography

Abstract

James Burnes (1801–1862) was one of the most charismatic and polarizing figures of nineteenth century Scottish freemasonry. He is best remembered for his work on the history of the Knight Templars and as the primary mover of the first Indian lodge specifically designed to welcome native candidates. In the Indian presidency of Bombay, he became an enthusiastic promoter of freemasonry and a zealous political agent defending British colonial interests wherever his travels took him. Although much has been written about his masonic career in India, there is no extensive biography of James Burnes, or at least no satisfactory attempt at a biographical approach that would seek to situate his masonic career within the more general frame of his career as a soldier and empire-builder. This study is therefore meant both as biographical approach that seeks to attempt to offer a more accurate insight into the life and works of this fascinating character, and as an insight into the intricate relationship between freemasonry and imperialism.

Author Biography

  • Simon Deschamps, Université Toulouse—Jean Jaurès

    Member of the research team Cultures Anglo-Saxonnes (EA 801)

References

Magazines and Correspondance:

Letter from John Grant to the Grand Lodge of England, 30th November 1840 (United Grand Lodge of England: Indian Correspondence, HC 17/D/24).

The Freemason, 18 [online] (February 2001). Available at http://lodge342.dgli-sc.com/fmfeb01.htm

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Other Sources:

André, Nadine. "Alexander Burnes, un héritier des Lumières écossaises dans le sous-continent indien à l’âge des réformes", Etudes Ecossaises [online] 14 (2001).

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Cooper, Robert. Cracking the Freemason’s Code: The Truth About Solomon’s Key and the Brotherhood. New York: Atria Books, 2006.

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Hogg, Bruce, and Diane Clements. ‘Freemasons and the Royal Society: Alphabetical List of Fellows of the Royal Society who were Freemasons’, The Library and Museum of Freemasonry.

Lane-Poole, Stanley. ‘Burnes, James (1801–1862).” Rev. James Mills. In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed., edited by David Cannadine, October 2005. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/4057 (accessed September 3, 2016).

Laurie, William F. B. Sketches of Some Distinguished Anglo-Indians. London: Savoy Steal Press, 1875.

Mill, James. The History of British India, Vol. I. London: Bladwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1820.

Prior, Katherine. ‘Burnes, Sir Alexander (1805–1841).’ Katherine Prior In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed., edited by David Cannadine, January 2008. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/4056 (accessed September 3, 2016)

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Published

2017-09-28

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Deschamps, S. (2017). James Burnes (1801–1862): Scottish Freemason and Empire Builder. Journal for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism, 6(1), 49-67. https://doi.org/10.1558/jrff.31864