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Papers on Sir Richard Burton, 1962 - 1973

 Sub-Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 22/37

Scope and Contents

Papers relating to Sir Richard Burton and the Royal Asiatic Society's Burton Collection.

Dates

  • Creation: 1962 - 1973

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Biographical / Historical

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890), soldier and writer, was born at Barham House, Hertfordshire, on 19 March 1821. He entered Trinity College, Oxford, in 1840, but did not graduate. He became a cadet in the Indian army in 1842, and was appointed ensign to the 18th regiment of the Bombay native infantry, eventually becoming captain. While in India he studied languages and developed a knowledge of Mu culture. He returned to England in 1849, and published three philological works on Asiatic languages in 1849, and volumes on India, 1851-1853. He made a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1853, and explored Somaliland during 1854. After serving in the Crimea in 1855, he was part of an expedition to the Nile, 1856-1859, then travelled in North America, 1860. He was British consul at Fernando Po, 1861-1865, Santos, 1865-1869, Damascus, 1869-1871, and Trieste, 1872, and during this period he went on journeys to explore the surrounding areas. He visited the Gold Coast in 1881-1882 before spending his later years writing. He died at Trieste on 20 October 1890.

Charles Edward Jewel Whitting (1900-1973) was the author of 'Hausa and Fulani proverbs' (Lagos, 1940).

Extent

1 folder(s) (1 folder (72 pages)) : paper

Language of Materials

English

Former / Other Reference

MSS 11c99

Other Finding Aids

MSS Addenda, vol. I.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

RCMS 22/37/1-3 were presented by Mrs C.E.J. Whitting, 1974. RCMS 22/37/4 was presented by C.E.J. Whitting, 1962.

Related Materials

The R.C.S. Manuscripts Collection also includes Whitting's account of his visit to Russia and Central Asia, RCMS 22/18.

General

This collection level description was created by RAS using information from the original typescript catalogue. The biographical history was compiled with reference to the entry on Sir Richard Burton in the 'Dictionary of national biography'.

Originator(s)

Whitting, Charles Edward Jewel, 1900-1973

Finding aid date

2003-08-29 10:24:52+00:00

Includes index.

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom