Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt:... THE TRUE LIFE OF CAPT. SIR RICHARD F. BURTON K.C.M.G. F.R.G.S. ETC. CHAPTER I DICHARD FRANCIS BURTON was born on the DEGREES i9th March, 1821, at Barham House, Herts, the home of his maternal grandfather and grandmother, Richard and Sarah Beckwith Baker. His mother, one of three coheiresses, had married the earliest; and he, her first child, became the darling of the household. Baptized in due course at Elstree Parish Church, he spent most part of his infancy with these relatives; and, as often happens even with very young children, who have passed two or three perfectly happy years, and never quite forget them, he could just remember being brought down after dinner to dessert, seated on the knee of a tall man with yellow hair and bright blue eyes. His grandfather on the paternal side he never saw. The Rev. Edward Burton, Rector of Tuam, was educated in England for the Church; and, on being presented with his Irish benefice, left the Lake Country with his brother Edmond, afterwards Dean of Killala, and settled in Ireland for the rest of his life. These brothers, originally of Barker's Hill, near Shap, Westmoreland, were related to the Burtons of Longnor, like Lord Conyngham and Sir Charles Burton of Pollacton; and were, in fact, collateral descendants of Francis Pierpoint Burton first Marquis of Conyngham. The notable man of the family, Sir Edward Burton, fought so bravely during the Wars of the Roses, that he was made a Knight Banneret by Edward IV after the second battle of St. Albans. The rector who, besides his living, possessed private means, had not been long in Ireland before he purchased the property of Newgarden, near Tuam, where he seems to have combined, according to the easy-going fashion of the day, the duties of squire