Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821–1890) was a celebrated explorer, orientalist, translator and British diplomat, known for his linguistic talents and for his adventures in territories then unexplored, including the discovery of the Lago Tanganyika and the penetration into Muslim places forbidden to non-believers.
His Stay in Trieste (1872–1890)
Burton spent the last 18 years of his life in Trieste, then part of the Impero Austro-Ungarico, from 1872 until his death in 1890. Here he held the position of British consul, a role he initially experienced as an ignominious exile, but which over time he learned to appreciate and to consider his true home.
Translations and Literary Production in Trieste
During his Triestine stay, Burton dedicated himself intensely to translation and literary production. He distinguished himself as a translator of extraordinary virtuosity, translating and annotating numerous volumes.
- Six volumes of poetry by Camões
- Tales by Giambattista Basile
- Book on Islanda
- Work on Bologna etrusca
- Works on Sindh
- Studies on the gold mines of Midian
- Researches on the Costa d’Oro africana (today Ghana)
- The celebrated Book of the Sword (1884), a work of historical erudition on edged weapons
Residence and Daily Life
His private residence during the Triestine period was a villa that still exists today, albeit modified, known as "Villa Economo". Burton also frequented thermal localities in the surroundings, such as a noted locality at Opicina, which he used to recover his physical strength.
Trieste as a Cultural Crossroads
The Trieste of the era, capital of an important austro-ungarico port, represented an ideal cultural and commercial crossroads for the variety of interests of Burton, who combined diplomatic activity with an untiring study of cultures and languages, coming to know more than forty languages.
Death and Legacy in Trieste
His death, which occurred in Trieste, was significant for the city and is still remembered today through a street dedicated to him and historical testimonies that underscore his bond with Trieste in the context of diplomatic and cultural history between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.