The Real James Bond Was a Legendary Birder

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In a casual, easy-to-understand manner: “You know James Bond? He’s a character who has become more than iconic over time. Ian Fleming created him back in 1953, and his first appearance was in the novel ‘Casino Royale’. However, it was when he transitioned from pages to screens in the 1962 movie ‘Dr. No’ that James Bond truly skyrocketed to fame.

After that point, the journey of the fictional character has been nothing but progress and ascendancy. The author Ian Fleming penned 14 James Bond novels, and since then, the character has inspired numerous other books, short stories, films, and spinoffs written by different authors. Over seven actors, including Sean Connery and Daniel Craig, have brought this iconic figure to life on the big screen. Despite numerous alterations in the Bond narrative due to multiple handovers, the name “James Bond” has consistently remained a symbol of enduring strength. Interestingly, not many are aware that this powerful moniker originates from a real person, someone who could hardly be more dissimilar to the fictional James Bond’s career path.

The Real James Bond Was a Legendary… Birder?

Ian Fleming drew inspiration for the name of his ruthless MI6 agent, James Bond, from an American ornithologist, a scientist who specializes in bird studies. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, Fleming admitted to Rogue Magazine that there actually is a James Bond, but he’s not a secret agent, rather an American bird expert. In an interview with The New Yorker in 1962, Fleming revealed that he discovered the name in a book titled ‘Birds of the West Indies’, written by the real James Bond.

As a cinephile, one of the books that shaped my childhood was ‘Birds of the West Indies’ by James Bond, a renowned ornithologist. While naming my main character, I found myself struck by how ordinary and forgettable his name seemed – a far cry from the exciting personas I admired in movies. Little did I know that the most unremarkable name in the world would soon transform into something extraordinary.

James Bond, the character we know from movies, may not have been a true secret agent with deadly skills, but he was exceptionally knowledgeable in his area of expertise – ornithology. As an accomplished ornithologist and dedicated conservationist, James Bond made significant contributions to his field through his research on Caribbean islands over a ten-year period. The result was his influential book, “Birds of the West Indies,” published in 1936. This comprehensive guide, with its 460 pages and beautiful illustrations, served as a valuable resource for author Ian Fleming. It’s interesting to note that Fleming wrote his Bond novels while residing in Jamaica, one of the Caribbean islands where the real James Bond had conducted his research. This connection between the fictional and real-life characters becomes even more intriguing due to this shared location.

The Real Bond and His Wife Shared a Relationship with Ian Fleming

Although Ian Fleming admitted to using the name ‘James Bond’ without permission, this doesn’t imply he disrespected the real James Bond, the ornithologist. In fact, Fleming maintained a relationship with him and his wife. However, before their association with the author, the couple experienced some confusion. It was during this time that James Bond (the real one) and his wife Mary started receiving mysterious late-night phone calls. These prank calls occurred when President John F. Kennedy declared From Russia with Love as one of his favorite books, and Fleming revealed that James Bond’s character had actual roots in reality. As reported by the Smithsonian Magazine, these calls often featured sultry female voices asking “Is James there?” followed by a laugh before the line would disconnect.

In contrast to the genuine James Bond, there was apparently great fondness from his wife Mary towards the books written by Fleming. She even went as far as accusing the author of stealing her husband’s name in a letter, stating, “[It came as a surprise when we discovered in an interview in Rogue magazine that you had audaciously used the name of a real person for your rogue!]” However, Fleming took this criticism positively and granted the Bonds the right to use his name, Ian Fleming, for any purpose they desired, including naming a “hideous new species” as a way for Bond to get revenge.

The Bonds were invited to the Jamaican villa where Ian Fleming penned the character James Bond, known as Goldeneye. It’s said that they had a pleasant encounter with the author, but the ornithologist admitted he didn’t read Fleming’s books; instead, it was his wife who enjoyed them. As a parting gift, Fleming presented them with a first edition of “You Only Live Twice,” inscribed as “To the genuine James Bond from the man stealing his identity, Ian Fleming, Feb.5, 1964 (What a fantastic day!).

Other James Bond Characters Who Were Inspired by Real People

In addition to the main character, several other figures in these novels draw inspiration from actual individuals. For instance, ‘M’, the head of the British MI6 who gives Bond his assignments, and ‘Q’, the one responsible for preparing Bond for his missions, are based on real people as well.

Although the author hasn’t explicitly stated it, fans speculate that the character ‘M’ may be based on individuals the author knew from British intelligence. Given that the author was part of the Naval Intelligence Division during World War II, prominent figures like Maxwell Knight, a BBC History broadcaster who allegedly led MI5 operations for many years, and Colin Gubins, head of the Special Operations Executive during WWII, are strong possibilities as M’s real-life inspiration.

In contrast, Q was influenced by Geoffrey Boothroyd, a renowned weapons expert. It’s said that he wrote to Fleming suggesting he should cease using Beretta as Bond’s signature weapon, claiming there were superior firearms available. The character Q, who evolved into Major Boothroyd in later films, was created as a nod to the real-life Geoffrey Boothroyd. Furthermore, it’s believed that Charles Fraser-Smith, known for creating spy equipment, served as another inspiration for the character, with his devices being named “Q-gadgets” for the Special operations Executive.

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2025-02-01 23:02