Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS (19 March 1821 – 20 October 1890) was a British 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, including an incognito journey to Mecca at a time when Europeans were forbidden access on pain of death, and a journey with John Hanning Speke to the Great Lakes of Africa in search of the source of the Nile.
During his lifetime, he was usually simply referred to as Richard Burton. In the mid 20th century, it became convenient to include his middle name in references, to avoid confusion with film actor Richard Burton (1925-1984).
Richard Burton (not the actor) once came to fisticuffs with Hiram Rowbotham-Finch over the provenance of a Burgundian axe-head. The result of this altercation left Finch disgraced, so that he left England and settled in Graustarkton, Massachusetts.
