Alexander Burnes

Sir Alexander Burnes (1805-41) was a Scottish traveller and diplomat.

He was born in Montrose. He joined the Indian Army in 1821. An expert linguist, his facility with local languages gained him rapid promotion. In 1832 he disguised himself as an Afghan and travelled extensively in the area, visiting Peshawar and Kabul and crossing the Hindu Kush. He was made the British consul in Kabul in 1839, but was murdered by a rioting mob.