This article is about James Bland Lamb, late 18th-century member of the British Parliament. For 19th-century American minstrel and composer, see James A. Bland.
Portrait of Sir James Bland Burges (the future Sir James Lamb), painted in Rome in 1774 by Pietro Labruzzi during his Grand TourSir James Burges
Sir James Bland Lamb, 1st Baronet (8 June 1752 – 13 October 1824), born James Burges and known as Sir James Burges, Bt, between 1795 and 1821, was a British author, barrister and Member of Parliament.
Born James Burges, he was the only son of George Burges and Anne Whichnour Somerville. His mother was the daughter of James Somerville, 12th Lord Somerville.[1] His father had distinguished himself at the Battle of Culloden by capturing the standard of Charles Edward Stewart and was later deputy paymaster in Gibraltar.[2]
He exchanged poetry with royalty and wrote long poems. The Birth and Triumph of Love was published in 1796 and the 16,000 line poem was very poorly received. It was quoted as a project that was known for its lack of success. Despite the ignominy Burges still had a prestige and funds available where he could indulge his literary interests. He wrote an introduction for William Henry Ireland's Shakespearian forgery and Thomas Dermody stole money from him. Burges continued to publish poetry and he had a play in Drury Lane. Despite being championed by Lord Byron, no other plays followed.[2]
He wrote an introduction to a later edition of the Pilgrim's Progress sequel, Progress of the Pilgrim Good-Intent in Jacobinical Times. In this introduction he revealed that the true author of the work was his gifted sister Mary Ann Burges.[2]
Burges married three times; his first marriage to Elizabeth Noel, second daughter of Edward Noel, 1st Viscount Wentworth in 1777 produced no children. His second marriage to Anne, third daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Louis Charles Montolieu, Baron of St Hippolite produced the following children.[8]
Somerville Waldemar (b. 7March 1794), an ensign in the 1st Foot Guards, lost a leg at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.[9] In 1821 he married Mademoiselle Melanie-Marianne Meray, daughter of Capt. Meray, of the French Army.[8]
Clara Maria (d. 4February 1821).
Emilia Charlotte, who married Major-General Sir Hugh Halkett on 25May 1810.
Caroline Eliza Anne (d. 20November 1863).
Sophia Anne (d.11October 1858), who married Warburton Davies on 21December 1821.
^ abcDavid Hill Radcliffe, ‘Burges, Sir James Bland, first baronet (1752–1824)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 4 Aug 2014
