16 Facts About Frederick Burnaby

Colonel Frederick Gustavus Burnaby was a British Army intelligence officer.

Frederick Burnaby's popularity was legendary, appearing in a number of stories and tales of empire.

Frederick Burnaby was a first cousin of Edwyn Burnaby and of Louisa Cavendish-Bentinck.

Frederick Burnaby planned to visit St Petersburg to meet Count Milyutin, the Minister of War to the Tsar.

Frederick Burnaby ignored the escort, believing the tribes more friendly than the Russians.

Frederick Burnaby's book outlined in some detail the events of the following days, the successful outcome of the meetings, and the decision he took to evade the Russian army.

Frederick Burnaby gained respect from the population, who bowed in homage at a soldier en passant.

Frustrated Frederick Burnaby learnt of the overwhelming numerical superiority the Tsarists presented.

Frederick Burnaby's fame grew celebrated in London society, in newspaper and magazines.

Frederick Burnaby was warned the Russian garrison had issued an arrest warrant; turning back at the frontier he took ship on the Black Sea via the Bosphorus and the Mediterranean.

Frederick Burnaby acted as travelling agent to the Stafford House Red Cross Committee, but had to return to England before the campaign was over.

Frederick Burnaby was given a post by Lord Wolseley, involved first in the skirmish at El Teb, until he met his death in the hand-to-hand fighting of the Battle of Abu Klea.

Frederick Burnaby had been struck again by a Mahdist spear through the neck and throat.

The young soldier was tearful because Frederick Burnaby was revered as one of the great Victorian heroes.

Yet the song "Colonel Frederick Burnaby" was written in his honour and his portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Frederick Burnaby appears as a balloonist in Julian Barnes's memoir Levels of Life, where he is portrayed as having a love affair with Sarah Bernhardt.