SCOTT, James George. Dairsie, Fife 25.12.1851 — Petworth, West Sussex 4.4.1935. Sir. British (Scottish) Civil Servant and Journalist in Burma. Son of George Scott (1800–1861), a Presbyterian minister, and Mary Forsythe. Lost early his father, educated in Stuttgart and Cambridge. The loss of family fortune forced him to interrupt his studies at Oxford (Lincoln College). Worked as journalist reporting of South-East Asian things for London newspapers (in Malacca, Burma, Vietnam). When British annexed Upper Burma he was invited to join the Burma Commission and arrived at Mandalay in 1886. Superintendent and Political Officer in Southern Shan States. K.C.I.E. 1901. Three times married, 1890 Elizabeth Dora Connolly (1852–1896), 1905 Eleanor Susan McCarthy (until 1918, one daughter) and 1920 Geraldine Edith Milton (1868–1955), then his biographer and a well-known author.

In Burma Scott collected manuscripts and documents (now in Cambridge). He also used the nom-de-plume Shway Yoe.

Publications: Several books about Burma.

– Wrote on Buddhism in Burma and Assam in E.R.E.

Sources: *G. Mitton, Scott of the Shan Hills. L. 1936; Wikitree; Wikipedia with further references and photo.