GB 0402 RFB - BURTON, Sir Richard (1821-1890)

1 box and three files

GB 0402 RFB 1852-1880 Collection level 1 box and three files Burton , Sir , Richard Francis , 1821-1890 , Knight , explorer and diplomat

Sir Richard Francis Burton was born 19 March 1821; he matriculated from Trinity College, Oxford in 1840. Colonel Burton purchased a commission for Burton in the Bombay army and he arrived in India in October 1842, serving as a staff interpreter, surveyor, and intelligence officer as well as carrying out infantry duties. Burton demonstrated proficiency in the East India Company's language examinations and during his life mastered more than forty languages and dialects. Burton also mastered cultures, enabling him to 'pass among native peoples in disguise'. Following a bout of cholera Burton returned to England and began to write, publishing dozens of books.

In 1852 Burton proposed to the Royal Geographical Society that he make the hajj, or pilgrimage, to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Forbidden to non-Muslims, Burton intended to make the pilgrimage in complete disguise as a Muslim native of the Middle East. With the RGS's support, Burton set off in 1854, taking notes and A Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah, 1855-1856 became a classic piece of travel literature. Following this on 29 October 1854, disguised as a Turkish merchant, Burton began an expedition to Harar, an area no European had ever entered. On his return to England Burton was awarded the RGS's gold medal. Burton continued to travel to places including Damascus and North America and to write and died 20 October 1890.

Unknown.

Papers of Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1852-1880, comprise 'Proposed Somali expedition' 1855; Field notebook, east coast to Ujiji, 1858; Observations made at Ujiji, 1858; 'The Ukara or Ukerewe Lake', 1872; Log book containing entries made at Santos, Brazil, March to October 1868 and RGS Correspondence files: 61 letters written to the Society by Burton,1852-1880.

None expected.

Arranged as in Scope and Content.

Accessible via The Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.

English

A detailed catalogue can be found online at Access to Archives.

JMS/9/176, RGS/CB4/292 and RGS/CB6/350 .

Related material can be found at Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Huntington Library; British Library Manuscript Collections; Syracuse University Libraries; Harvard University: Houghton Library; Orleans House Gallery, Richmond Local Studies Library; Oxford University: Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts; London University: University College London (UCL) Special Collections; Cambridge University: Trinity College Library; and Glasgow City Archives.

Sources: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online.
Prepared by Archives Volunteer using existing finding aids and edited by Samantha Velumyl, AIM25 cataloguer.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

7th June, 2001 and modified May 2008. Kigoma Ujiji Burton , Sir , Richard Francis , 1821-1890 , Knight , explorer and diplomat Geography Geographical exploration Literature Literary forms and genres Prose Nonfiction Travel writing Tanzania UR East Africa Brazil South America Somalia

Unknown.

Papers of Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1852-1880, comprise 'Proposed Somali expedition' 1855; Field notebook, east coast to Ujiji, 1858; Observations made at Ujiji, 1858; 'The Ukara or Ukerewe Lake', 1872; Log book containing entries made at Santos, Brazil, March to October 1868 and RGS Correspondence files: 61 letters written to the Society by Burton,1852-1880.

None expected.

Arranged as in Scope and Content.

Accessible via The Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.

• Engels

• Latijn

English

JMS/9/176, RGS/CB4/292 and RGS/CB6/350 .

A detailed catalogue can be found online at Access to Archives.

Related material can be found at Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Huntington Library; British Library Manuscript Collections; Syracuse University Libraries; Harvard University: Houghton Library; Orleans House Gallery, Richmond Local Studies Library; Oxford University: Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts; London University: University College London (UCL) Special Collections; Cambridge University: Trinity College Library; and Glasgow City Archives.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

• Engels