On December 30, 1920, James Boucher died in Sofia - an Irish journalist and public figure, who remained in history as one of the greatest foreign friends and defenders of Bulgaria.
From 1892 to 1915, he was a permanent correspondent for the prestigious British newspaper "The Times" for the Balkans, spending much of his time in Sofia.
Boucher became known for his objective reports, in which he often defended Bulgarian national interests during the Balkan Wars and after the First World War. He sharply criticized the unfair Treaty of Bucharest (1913) and the Treaty of Neuilly (1919) for Bulgaria.
He enjoyed great trust among the Bulgarian political elite and the family of Tsar Ferdinand, playing the role of an unofficial diplomatic mediator.
Boucher was strongly attached to Bulgarian life and culture - he often wore a Shops costume, drank boza and liked to stay at the Rila Monastery.
At his express wish, he was buried near the Rila Monastery - an honor that was not bestowed on any other foreigner.
Today, one of the largest boulevards in Sofia bears his name, as does the “James Boucher“ metro station in the “Lozenets“ district.
A peak in Rila also bears his name.