Edmund Burt facts for kids

Edmund Burt, also known as Edward Burt, was an English writer and a government official. He worked in Scotland in the 1700s. His main job was collecting money (rents) for the British government. He is best known for his book, Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland. This book describes what Scotland was like in his time.

Edmund Burt's Life

Edmund Burt was an English official who passed away on January 4, 1755. In 1725, he got a special job in Scotland. He became the Receiver General and Collector of Rents. This meant he collected money from lands that the government had taken. These lands were called "Forfeited Estates." They were taken after the Jacobite rising of 1715. This was a time when some people tried to put a different king on the throne.

Burt's job was to collect rents from these lands until they were sold. He worked closely with General George Wade. However, Burt did not help build the famous "Wade roads" in the Scottish Highlands.

In August 1725, Burt went with General Wade to Brahan Castle. This was near Dingwall. They were there to disarm a group called the Seaforth Mackenzies. Burt was promised that the rents would be paid on time. But the tenants did not pay. So, General Wade had to order military help for Burt to collect the money.

By 1726, Burt was also a Justice of the Peace in Inverness. This meant he helped with local law and order. Later, in 1729, he became the manager of lead mines at Strontian in Argyll. He continued to work in the Highlands for several years after 1741.

His Famous Book: Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland

Around 1727 and 1728, Edmund Burt wrote a series of letters. These letters were later published as a book. It was called Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland to his Friend in London. In these letters, Burt wrote about General Wade's road-building work. The book also has important early pictures of Highland dress from around Inverness.

Burt knew that some of his descriptions might upset Scottish people. So, he asked his friend in London to keep the letters a secret. He wrote that it "would do me no great honour" if people knew he collected these stories.

The letters were published anonymously in London in 1754. The editor of the book said that Burt had died "some time ago." The editor also mentioned that Burt's family was not doing well financially.

After Burt's death in 1755, newspapers like the Gentleman's Magazine and the Scots Magazine said he was the author of the Letters. The Scots Magazine even called him "late agent to Gen. Wade, chief surveyor during the making of roads through the Highlands, and author of the letters concerning Scotland."

Other versions of the book were published later. These included editions in Dublin in 1755, and in London in 1759 and 1815. The latest edition was put together by R. Jamieson in 1818. It even had notes from Sir Walter Scott.