Frederick Samuel Augustus Bourne

Sir Frederick Samuel August Bourne CMG (1854-1940 ) was a British judge and diplomat who served in China. His last position before retirement was as Assistant Judge of the British Supreme Court for China.

Bourne was born on 3 October 1854. He was the son of Rev. S. W. Bourne, Rector of Winfarthing, Norfolk, and Mary Caroline, daughter of late Henry Cassin, M.D. His father had died leaving “a widow and six children in reduced circumstances.” At the age of 18, Bourne commenced work as a clerk in the War Office.

He had been advised that “pay and prospects were better in China” and started studying for the Foreign Office exam. He passed a competitive exam on 14 February 1876 and was appointed a student interpreter in China on 10 March 1876.

Bourne had served all over China, including Guangzhou, Chongqing, Pagoda Island (near Fuzhou), Wuhu and Tamsui (near Taipei). While in Chongqing he had gone on a six-month tour through modern-day Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi and Guizhou to report on the potential for trade. His report was presented to both Houses of the British Parliament in June 1888. From 1896 to 1898, Bourne was consul in charge of a mission by the Blackburn Chamber of Commerce to investigate trade with China.

Bourne was also a keen botanist. He collected various botanical samples when in China and has two species of plants named after him, the Bournea sinensis and Bournea leiophylla.

Bourne was called to the bar of Lincoln’s Inn in 1890 during long leave at home in England.

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