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James Burney (1750-1821)

an image of James Burney

Ìý James BurneyÌý(charcoal drawing after bust, n. d.)
Ìý By R. H. Dyer (?)

Ìý Born:ÌýJune 13, 1750
Ìý Died:ÌýNovember 17, 1821

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Works:

  • With Captain James Cook in the Antarctic and PacificÌý(Burney's personal journal) (1772-1773)
  • A Voyage to the South Sea in HMS Bounty, by William BlighÌý(edited) (1792)
  • A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean, 5 vols (1803-1817)
  • A History of the Buccaneers of AmericaÌý(1816)
  • A Treatise on the Game of WhistÌý(1821)

Birth and Early Life
James Burney was born on June 13, 1750, in London. He was the second child and first son ofÌýCharles Burney (1726-1814)Ìýand his first wife, Esther Sleepe (c.1725-1762). At the age of ten, he was sent to sea to act as a captain's servant on theÌýPrincess Amelia. By the age of fifteen, he was a midshipman on theÌýAquilon.

Voyages with Captain Cook
In 1772, John Montagu, fourth earl of Sandwich, arranged a post for James as an able seaman on Captain James Cook's ship, theÌý. James accompanied Cook on his second voyage of discovery to the south seas. During the voyage, he received his first commission, as second lieutenant of theÌý, the sister-ship of theÌýResolution. Upon his return to England in 1774, James acted as an interpreter forÌý. In 1776, he accompanied Cook on his third voyage of discovery, during which James witnessed the death of Captain Cook. At the very end of the voyage, upon the death of his immediate superior,Ìý, in 1779, James was promoted to commander of theÌý.Ìý

End of Naval Career
James was made captain of theÌýBristolÌýin June 1782. His task was to accompany a dozenÌýÌýships to Madras (now called Chennai). On June 20, 1783, theÌýBristolÌýwas involved in the Battle of Cuddalore against the French fleet. The following year, Burney became ill and was forced to return to England. Though he later petitioned for a new command, theÌýBristolÌýwas his final active naval position. His forced retirement was in part due to his insubordination (he had disobeyed orders in 1782) and in part due to his republican political stance. Only in July 1821, at the age of seventy-one, did he receive a promotion to rear-admiral on the retired list, due to the influence of the Duke of Clarence (later William IV), admiral of the fleet.Ìý

Personal Life
Over the course of his lifetime, James counted amongst his friends such major figures as Samuel Johnson, Charles Lamb, William Hazlitt, Sir Joseph Banks, and others. After his retirement from the navy, James married Sarah Payne (1759-1832) on September 6, 1785. They had two children. In 1798, James left his family for five years and lived with his younger half-sisterÌýSarrah Harriet Burney (1772-1844). He returned to his wife and children in 1803.Ìý

Literary Career
After his forced retirement, Burney began his second career as a writer on the topic of exploration. His first project was to edit an edition of William Bligh'sÌýA Voyage to the South Sea in HMS Bounty, published in 1792. His major work wasÌýA Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean, published in five volumes from 1803 to 1817. In 1809, James was elected as aÌý.Ìý

Death
On November 17, 1821, at the age of seventy-one, Rear-Admiral James Burney died of an apoplectic stroke. He is buried the churchyard ofÌý.


Further Reading

Online Resources


By Lars Troide
Available to online subscribers to theÌý

Texts by James Burney available online
Links compiled by the Burney Centre.
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Print Resources


Burney, James.ÌýA History of the Buccaneers of America.ÌýEd. Malcolm Barnes. London:ÌýGeorge Allen and Unwin Ltd, 1949.

---.ÌýNew Method Proposed for Measuring a Ship's Rate of Sailing.ÌýLondon: Royal Society, 1809.

---.ÌýObservations on the progress of bodies floating in a stream: with an account of some Experiments made in the River Thames, with a view to discover a method for ascertaining the direction of Currents.ÌýLondon: Royal Society, 1809.

---.ÌýOn the Causes which Influence the Direction of the Magnetic Needle.ÌýLondon: Royal Society,Ìý1819.

---.ÌýA Treatise on the Game of Whist.ÌýLondon: Thomas and William Boone, 1823.

---.ÌýWith Captain James Cook in the Antarctic and Pacific: The Private journal of James Burney,ÌýSecond Lietenant of theÌýAdventureÌýon Cook's Second Voyage, 1772-1773.ÌýEd. BeverleyÌýHooper. Canberra: National Library of Australia, 1975.

Manwaring, G. E.ÌýMy friend the admiral: the life, letters, and journals of Rear-Admiral JamesÌýBurney.ÌýLondon: George Routledge, 1931.

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