Frederick Traill-Burroughs

Sir Frederick William Traill-Burroughs (born Burroughs; 1 February 1831 – 9 April 1905) was a British Army officer.

He was born in British India, fought in Crimea at the Battle of Alma, at the siege town of Lucknow in India and in the North West Frontier. After a spell in command at Edinburgh Castle he retired from the army.

On his return from India, he visited Rousay, Orkney, where he built a large house at Trumland; he had inherited much of the island and gradually bought more of it, carrying out many improvements.

He died in London and is buried there in Brompton Cemetery.

Early life Traill-Burroughs was born at Fatehgarh (a military post) on the banks of the Ganges not far from Cawnpore in 1831, the eldest of five children to General Frederick William Burroughs and Caroline de Peyron.

His mother was the only daughter Capt. Charles Adolphus Marie de Peyron and Mary Colebrooke, eldest daughter of Sir George Colebrooke. His mother's grandfather was killed in a duel in Paris by Auguste Marie Raymond, Prince d'Arenberg, Comte de la Marck.

He was the grandson of Sir William Burroughs of Castle Bagshaw. His mother was of Capt. Charles Adolphus Marle de Peyron.

Several reputable sources, including the Dictionary of National Biography, describe him as the grandson of Sir William Burroughs, Advocate-General of Bengal. However, Traill-Burroughs was born 16 years after the death of Sir William's only son. Many witness statements are included in the Napier Enquiry and not just the witness statements of James Leonard and James Grieve. However, there is significant evidence that the two men who were evicted were not legal tenants of Traill and had both refused legal tenancies when offered, furthermore when the crofters were unable to make their own way to Mainland Orkney to give evidence at the Commission General Traill-Burroughs had them taken on his own boat to enable them to raise their grievances.

Burroughs was appointed a Vice-Lieutenant of Orkney and Shetland on 17 January 1900.

Later life

Traill-Burroughs died in London on 9 April 1905, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.

There is also a memorial to him in Kirkwall Cathedral.

Personal life He married Eliza D'Oyly Geddes (9 May 1849 – 1 February 1908), youngest daughter of Col. William Geddes and Emma D'Oyly. They had no children.