Edmund Burt

Edmund Burt also known as Edward Burt (died 4 January 1755) was a Scottish military figure, engineer and author.

He was the author of the Letters from a Gentleman in the North of Scotland, largely quoted by Sir Walter Scott and Macaulay. He has been variously described as an engineer officer who served with General Wade in Scotland in 1724–8, as an army contractor, and an illiterate hack-writer, who ended his days in dire distress. The war office records fail to show that Burt held military rank.

Evidence in the ‘Letters’ shows that they were written in 1725–6, although not published until long afterwards. Burt's death was announced in the Scots Magazine’ for 1755. The announcement, in Volume xvii January 1755 page 52, states, "At London. Edmund Burt Esq; late agent to Gen. Wade, chief surveyor during the making of roads through the Highlands, and author of the letters concerning Scotland." The Scots Magazine reviewed the book in Volume xvi (July 1754) page 359.

The first edition of the ‘Letters’ appeared in London in 1754. Subsequent editions appeared in Dublin in 1755, in London in 1759 and 1815, and at Haarlem and Hanover. The latest was edited by R. Jamieson, with contributions by Sir Walter Scott, London in 1818.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chichester, Henry Manners (1886). "Burt, Edward". In Stephen, Leslie. Dictionary of National Biography 07. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

• Letters from a gentleman in the north of Scotland to his friend in London, by Edward Burt in Google books