Palmer Edward Henry

Palmer, Edward Henry, was born at Cambridge in 1840. He evinced a great aptitude for languages, and whilst following the uncongenial occupation of a merchant's clerk contrived to pick up several varieties of speech. Eeturning to Cambridge in 1859, he was led into Oriental studies, making such progress that he was admitted to St. John's College, and ultimately elected fellow. In 1870 he was employed with Drake in surveying Sinai and the adjoining desert, the result of his travels appearing in The Desert of the Exodus. In 1882 Government asked him to go to Egypt and use his influence in pacifying the Bedouin tribes around Suez. Whilst engaged in this service, he and his companions were murdered at Wady Sudr.