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R. F. Burton

Sir Richard Francis Burton
KCMG FRGS
Richard Francis Burton by Rischgitz, 1864.jpg
Burton in 1864
Born (1821-03-19)19 March 1821
Torquay, Devon, England
Died 20 October 1890(1890-10-20) (aged 69)
Trieste, Austria-Hungary
Resting place St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church Mortlake, London, England
Nationality British
Alma mater Trinity College, Oxford
Occupation Soldier, diplomat, explorer, translator, arabist, author
Notable work Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al Madinah and Meccah;
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night;
The Kasidah
Spouse(s) Isabel Burton (m. 1861–90)
Military career
Nickname(s) Ruffian Dick
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Empire
Service/branch Bombay Army
Years of service 1842–61
Rank Captain
Battles/wars Crimea War
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Crimea Medal
Signature
Richard Francis Burton signature.svg

Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was an English explorer, geographer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer, and diplomat. He was famed for his travels and explorations in Asia, Africa and the Americas, as well as his extraordinary knowledge of languages and cultures. According to one count, he spoke 29 European, Asian and African languages.

Burton's best-known achievements include a well-documented journey to Mecca, in disguise at a time when Europeans were forbidden access on pain of death; an unexpurgated translation of One Thousand and One Nights (commonly called The Arabian Nights in English after early translations of Antoine Galland's French version); the publication of the Kama Sutra in English; and a journey with John Hanning Speke as the first Europeans to visit the Great Lakes of Africa in search of the source of the Nile.

Burton defied many aspects of the pervasive British ethnocentrism of his day, relishing personal contact with human cultures in all their variety. His works and letters extensively criticized colonial policies of the British Empire, even to the detriment of his career. Although his university education aborted, he became a prolific and erudite author and wrote numerous books and scholarly articles about subjects including human behaviour, travel, falconry, fencing, sexual practices and ethnography. A characteristic feature of his books is the copious footnotes and appendices containing remarkable observations and information.


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