Letters and documents relating to James Glencairn Burns

Key details

Archive number: NTS/02/25/BRN/03/06
Date: 1811 to 1814
On display: No

Description

James Glencairn Burns (1794–1865) was the fourth son and eighth child born to the poet Robert Burns and his wife Jean Armour. James was born in Mill Brae Street, now Burns Street, in Dumfries on 12 August 1794. His first and middle name was added in honor of James Cunningham, 14th Earl of Glencairn, Robert's friend, patron and mentor.

James joined the East India Company's Service as a cadet aged 16 in the 15th Bengal Native Infantry and rose to reach the rank of Major. The letters within this collection relate to his time spent training in India as a new cadet, and detail his experiences trying to obtain references and letters of recommendation for promotion from other prominent members of the company.

James was later involved in the third Mahratta War and the Nepal War as well as the capture of the Lamba Fort. From 1818 onwards he sent home £150 a year, to assist with the living conditions of his mother, after the premature death of his father in 1796.

Shaw mair

Hierarchy

Letters, documents and ephemera regarding the family of Robert Burns ( )
Letters and documents relating to James Glencairn Burns( )
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