author
James Burnes
1801–1862
A Scottish surgeon, traveler, and prolific writer, he turned his years in India into books on history, travel, and public life. His work ranges from firsthand accounts of Sindh and Cutch to studies of groups such as the Knights Templar.
1 Audiobook
Sketch of the History of the Knights Templars Second Edition
by James Burnes
About the author
Born in Montrose, Scotland, in 1801, James Burnes trained in medicine before building a distinguished career in India. He served in Bombay and rose to become physician-general there, while also earning notice as a fellow of learned societies and as a widely published writer.
Burnes wrote across several fields, which helps explain his lasting interest for readers today. His books include A Narrative of a Visit to the Court of Sinde, Sketch of the History of Cutch, and A Sketch of the History of the Knights Templars, showing a mix of eyewitness travel writing, regional history, and historical curiosity.
He was also the brother of the explorer Alexander Burnes, and his own life reflected the same nineteenth-century world of imperial travel and scholarship. James Burnes died in 1862, leaving behind a body of work that blends medical experience, observation, and a strong interest in history.