Richard Francis Burton

British explorer, army officer, writer and scholar (1821–1890)

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About

Richard Francis Burton (1821–1890) was a British explorer, army officer, writer, and scholar. After being expelled from Oxford, he joined the East India Company army and mastered some thirty languages. In 1853, disguised as a Muslim pilgrim, he performed the Hajj to Mecca and Medina, a perilous feat for a European. He explored the Horn of Africa and, with John Hanning Speke, discovered Lake Tanganyika in 1858. Serving as British consul in various posts, he translated Oriental works such as The Arabian Nights and the Kama Sutra. He was knighted in 1886.

* 1821-03-19 — † 1890-10-20

Major works

A Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah (1855)travelogue
The Kasidah (1880)poetry
The Book of the Sword (1884)study
The Arabian Nights (1885)translation
Kama Sutra (1883)translation

Key milestones

1853Performed the Hajj to Mecca and Medina disguised as a Muslim pilgrim.
1858Discovered Lake Tanganyika with John Hanning Speke.
1886Knighted (KCMG).

Themes

ExplorationOrientalismTranslationLanguagesAdventure

Sources: en.wikisource.org · researchworks.oclc.org · bbc.co.uk

“Do what thy manhood bids thee do, from none but self expect applause; He who nobly fails, at least has failed as dauntless men are wont to do.”

— Richard Francis BurtonTheme · Courage

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“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshipped anything but himself.”

— Richard Francis BurtonTheme · Philosophy

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“All faith is false, all faith is true: Truth is the shattered mirror strown in myriad bits; while each believes his little bit the whole to own.”

— Richard Francis BurtonTheme · Philosophy

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