Robert Richardson (travel writer)

Dr Robert Richardson FRSE (1779–1847) was an early 19th century Scottish lawyer remembered as a travel writer.

Life

He was born in Stirlingshire in 1779. He was educated at Stirling High School then studied Medicine at Glasgow University. He gained his doctorate (MD) from Edinburgh University in 1807. After spending some years as a GP in Dumfriesshire he became travelling companion and personal physician to Charles John Gardiner, 1st Earl of Blessington (Viscount Mountjoy). In 1816 they were further joined by Somerset Lowry-Corry, 2nd Earl Belmore. The three then spent two years travelling Europe, Egypt and Palestine.[1]

Whilst in Albania they met Ali Pasha at Janina. Later in Palestine, Richardson claimed to be the first Christion visitor to Solomon's mosque in Gaza. In Tiberias they met Lady Hester Lucy Stanhope.

He returned to Britain in the summer of 1815, settling in Rathbone Place in London.

In 1818 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for his contributions to geology. His proposers were Sir James Hall, Henry Mackenzie, and Lt Col Patrick Tytler.[2]

He died at home at Gordon Street off Gordon Square in London on 5 November 1847 and is buried in Highgate Cemetery.

Publications

  • Travels (1822)

References

  1. ↑ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Robert Richardson
  2. ↑ Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
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