Alan Burns

Sir Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns (9 November 1887 – 29 September 1980) was a British civil servant who rose through the ranks to become governor of several colonies. He also wrote a number of books on politics and history, including a book on what he called "colour prejudice" (racism), in which he criticised the practice. Early life and family Burns was born in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and had seven siblings. His father was James Patrick Burns and his mother was Agnes Zulma Delisle Burns. His father was treasurer of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla and died in 1896. Among his siblings were Cecil Delisle Burns, a secularist writer and lecturer; Robert Edward Burns, who also worked in the Colonial Service; and Emile Burns, a leading British Communist. In 1901 Burns matriculated at St Edmund's College in Old Hall Green, but he had to leave early as his family could not afford the fees. His mother died in Hertfordshire in 1914. In the same year he married Kathleen Fitzpatrick Hardtman. They had two daughters, Barbara and Benedicta. Career Burns held several posts in the Colonial Service. He served in the Leeward Islands from 1905 to 1912 and then became Supervisor of Customs in Nigeria. In 1914 he enlisted in the West Africa Frontier Force. He served in the Cameroons Campaign and became Adjutant of the Nigeria Land Contingent. Burns was Private Secretary to Sir Frederick (later Lord) Lugard then Hugh Clifford during their times as governors of Nigeria.