Walter James, 4th Baron Northbourne
Encyclopedia
Walter Ernest Christopher James, 4th Baron Northbourne (18 January 1896 – 17 June 1982), was an English agriculturalist, author and rower
who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics
.
crew in the Boat Race. He was also a member of the Leander eight
which won the silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics
, coming within half a length of winning. In 1921 he rowed for Oxford again in the Boat Race.
Lord Northbourne married Katherine Louise, daughter of George Augustus Nickerson, in 1925. She died in 1980. Lord Northbourne survived her by two years and died in June 1982, aged 86. He was succeeded in his titles by his son Christopher
.
to the family estate at Kent. James coined the term "organic farming
" from the concept of "the farm as organism" and has the best claim to being the "father" of organic agriculture http://orgprints.org/10138. He published the book Look to the Land in 1940, which raises many of the issues current to discussions of organic agriculture. After reading Look to the Land, the philosopher and author Marco Pallis
contacted Lord Northbourne and later introduced him to the writings of the Traditionalist (also known as Perennialist) philosophy. Lord Northbourne eventually integrated this thinking into his own writings and life, and became a correspondent with many of the most prominent writers of this school, as well as with Thomas Merton
. He was also a frequent contributor to the quarterly journal, Studies in Comparative Religion
, which dealt with religious symbolism
and the Traditionalist perspective.
Lord Northbourne was the English translator for the works of several fellow Traditionalists including René Guénon
's major work, The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times, Light on the Ancient Worlds by Frithjof Schuon
, and Sacred Art in East and West by Titus Burckhardt
.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
.
Life
James was the son of Walter John James, 3rd Baron Northbourne, and his wife Laura Gwennlian (née Rice). He was educated at Oxford University where he studied agricultural science and was also an accomplished rower. In 1920 he was a member of the OxfordOxford University Boat Club
The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....
crew in the Boat Race. He was also a member of the Leander eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
which won the silver medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics
The Olympic Rowing Events at the 1920 Summer Olympics, the first Olympics after World War I, saw five events. The competitions were held from August 27, 1920 to August 29, 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
, coming within half a length of winning. In 1921 he rowed for Oxford again in the Boat Race.
Lord Northbourne married Katherine Louise, daughter of George Augustus Nickerson, in 1925. She died in 1980. Lord Northbourne survived her by two years and died in June 1982, aged 86. He was succeeded in his titles by his son Christopher
Christopher James, 5th Baron Northbourne
Christopher George Walter James, 5th Baron Northbourne DL, FRICS is a British farmer and businessman. He is one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999....
.
Agriculture and writing
James later applied the theories of Rudolf SteinerRudolf Steiner
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
to the family estate at Kent. James coined the term "organic farming
Organic farming
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
" from the concept of "the farm as organism" and has the best claim to being the "father" of organic agriculture http://orgprints.org/10138. He published the book Look to the Land in 1940, which raises many of the issues current to discussions of organic agriculture. After reading Look to the Land, the philosopher and author Marco Pallis
Marco Pallis
Marco Alexander Pallis was a Greek -British-born author and mountaineer with close affiliations to the Traditionalist School. He wrote works on the religion and culture of Tibet....
contacted Lord Northbourne and later introduced him to the writings of the Traditionalist (also known as Perennialist) philosophy. Lord Northbourne eventually integrated this thinking into his own writings and life, and became a correspondent with many of the most prominent writers of this school, as well as with Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O. was a 20th century Anglo-American Catholic writer and mystic. A Trappist monk of the Abbey of Gethsemani, Kentucky, he was a poet, social activist, and student of comparative religion...
. He was also a frequent contributor to the quarterly journal, Studies in Comparative Religion
Studies in Comparative Religion
Studies in Comparative Religion was a quarterly academic journal published from 1963–1987 that contained essays on the spiritual practices and religious symbolism of the world's religions. The journal was notable for the number of prominent Perennialists who contributed to it...
, which dealt with religious symbolism
Religious symbolism
Religious symbolism is the use of symbols, including archetypes, acts, artwork, events, or natural phenomena, by a religion. Religions view religious texts, rituals, and works of art as symbols of compelling ideas or ideals...
and the Traditionalist perspective.
Lord Northbourne was the English translator for the works of several fellow Traditionalists including René Guénon
René Guénon
René Guénon , also known as Shaykh `Abd al-Wahid Yahya was a French author and intellectual who remains an influential figure in the domain of metaphysics, having written on topics ranging from metaphysics, sacred science and traditional studies to symbolism and initiation.In his writings, he...
's major work, The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times, Light on the Ancient Worlds by Frithjof Schuon
Frithjof Schuon
Frithjof Schuon, was a native of Switzerland born to German parents in Basel, Switzerland. He is known as a philosopher, metaphysician and author of numerous books on religion and spirituality....
, and Sacred Art in East and West by Titus Burckhardt
Titus Burckhardt
Titus Burckhardt , a German Swiss, was born in Florence, Italy in 1908 and died in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1984. He devoted all his life to the study and exposition of the different aspects of Wisdom and Tradition.He was an eminent member of the "traditionalist school" of twentieth-century authors...
.