by Mary Gindling

Created on: April 07, 2010

As an Army officer, world traveler, master of disguise and languages, Sir Richard F. Burton packed more adventure into his one lifetime than any six ordinary men might have dreamed of doing. Endlessly curious and a tireless world traveler, his achievements included the first English translations of The Thousand and One Nights and the Kama Sutra, and the discovery of Lake Tanganyika He also took delight in tweaking the sensibilities of his fellow Englishmen by skirting the edges of good taste.

A Rebellious Youth

Burton was born on March 19, 1821 in Torquay, England. His father, Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Netterville Burton, had been dismissed from his post at half pay for refusing to testify in the adultery trial of Queen Caroline before the House of Lords.

 Both Richard and his younger brother Edward proved to be so troublesome that they were separated by 1840. Richard was sent to Trinity College at Oxford, but was expelled in 1842 for challenging a fellow student to a duel over a remark made about his mustache, and later attending a horse race. Shortly afterward, he joined the Bombay Army of the East India Company as a commissioned officer.

Military Service

Assigned as a field surveyor and intelligence officer in the Indian province of Sindh from 1842 to 1850, Burton earned a reputation as a tough and brilliant fighter, earning the nickname "Ruffian Dick" for his ferocity in single combat and his skill with his sword.

Burton also displayed an unusual talent for languages, learning several foreign languages and dialects, and becoming the only British officer who could speak Sindh. He proved to be adept at identifying the caste of individuals he met, and quickly learned the local customs, manners and religious beliefs of each caste. Unfortunately, his ability to blend into the local population earned him an assignment that proved disastrous both to his reputation and his military career.

General Sir Charles Napier assigned Burton the task of investigating homosexual brothels in Karachi. Napier was horrified by and opposed to homosexuality, especially among his officers, and wanted a a detailed report. Burton, using a variety of disguises, completed his investigation and submitted a very detailed report to Napier, who sent it on to Bombay, where it quickly created a sensation.

Many who read the report were convinced that its minute details could have only been obtained from personal experience and rumors began to circulate that Burton himself was a homosexual.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>