Browne, J. Ross (1821-1875)

Brief Biography:
J. (John) Ross Browne was born in Dublin, Ireland on February 11, 1821. He and his family moved to the United States in 1833, settling in Louisville, Kentucky. Browne began his lifelong travels in 1838, when he hired on as a flatboat hand traveling up and down the Mississippi. He decided to become a writer to support himself as he traveled. He wrote for the Globe, which later became The Congressional Record. His overseas journies began in 1842 with a stint as a deckhand on a whaling ship. This trip led to his book, Etchings of a Whaling Cruise. In this book, he stated his "aim was truth, not polish of style." Upon his return home in 1844, he married Lucy Mitchell and they had 9 children. Lucy and his family accompanied Browne on some of his trips. For instance, while J. Ross was touring the Holy Land, Lucy and her 2 children resided in Florence, Italy.

Browne served the United States government in many capacities. At various times he was a revenue agent, a postal inspector, a customs agent, and an Indian agent. He was appointed Ambassador to China in 1868 by President Johnson, but after he and his family made the trip to Peking (at their own expense), he was recalled by the new administration. Browne spent the remainder of his years with his family on their California estate, traveling and writing about the West. He died suddenly of appendicitis on December 9, 1875.

Brief Itinerary:
J. Ross Browne began his Holy Land tour in Florence, where he left his wife and children. He then traveled to Naples, boarded a steamer and landed in Palermo, Sicily. His two weeks in Sicily were spent viewing the catacombs of Palermo, Mt. Etna, the ruins of Taormina, and Messina. On October 15, Browne left Messina for Malta on the way to Athens. From Athens, Browne then steamed to Smyrna. Upon arrival, the ship was informed of a quarantine which had been placed on the port. This restriction only served to heighten Browne's determination to visit the city. He left the ship and stayed behind, waiting for the next steamer to Constantinople. On November 15, Browne departed for Beirut. He then met his guide, Yusef Simon Badra, for whom his travel diary is named. They then traveled to Tripoli and Baalbek. On the 23rd, the group arrived in Damascus. Their journey continued to Baneas, Tiberias, Nazareth, Djenin, Nablous, and finally reached Jerusalem. A day trip to Jericho and a side trip to Bethlehem on Christmas Day were taken. Browne then traveled on to Tantura, and back to Beirut. He caught a steamer to Alexandria, where his trip was cut short as he received news of his wife's illness and returned to Florence to see her.

Brief History of the Text:
Yusef, or the Journey of the Frangi: A Crusade in the East published in 1853 by Harper and Brothers of New York was compiled from a series of letters originally written for the National Intelligencer and from articles written for Harper's Monthly. This book was credited with making J. Ross Browne's name as a writer. The book was popular in its time and was reprinted in 1855, 1858, 1865, 1867, 1868, 1871, and 1876. Following a 100 year hiatus, the most recent reprinting was in 1977.