author
John Davenport
1789–1877
A 19th-century British writer and orientalist, remembered above all for An Apology for Mohammed and the Koran. His work stood out for taking Islam seriously at a time when that was unusual in English writing.
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About the author
Born on June 8, 1789, John Davenport was a British orientalist and writer whose books ranged across language, history, and religion. He is most often associated with An Apology for Mohammed and the Koran (1869), a study that helped make his name among readers interested in Islam and the wider history of the Middle East.
Available reference sources suggest that much of Davenport’s reputation rests on his published work rather than on a well-documented personal life. Alongside his writing on Islam, he is also linked to works such as an Italian-English dictionary and historical texts, showing a broad scholarly curiosity typical of many 19th-century men of letters.
He died in 1877. Although he is not a widely known figure today, his writing remains notable for its effort to explain religious and cultural subjects to English readers with more sympathy than was common in his era.