Sir Richard Francis Burton was a British explorer, writer, orientalist scholar, and soldier. 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, Burton spoke 29 languages.
Burton in 1864
Burton in Persian disguise as "Mirza Abdullah the Bushri" (c. 1849–50)
"The Pilgrim", illustration from Burton's Personal Narrative (Burton disguised as "Haji Abdullah", 1853)
Isabel Burton
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences, the society has 16,000 members, with its work reaching the public through publications, research groups and lectures.
Main entrance from the Exhibition Road extension, with the original Lowther Lodge to the right
Lowther Lodge, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) headquarters, designed by Richard Norman Shaw
2012 Poster for exhibition in the glass Pavilion on centenary of Scott's final expedition to the South Pole
