Richard Ford

Born in 1796, Richard Ford was an English writer, draftsman, and collector with a lasting fascination for Spain. He studied at Oxford and later traveled widely, building the firsthand knowledge that shaped his writing.

Ford spent several years in Spain in the 1830s, traveling through the country, sketching what he saw, and gathering detailed notes on its landscapes, art, customs, and daily life. That deep immersion fed the work for which he is best known, A Handbook for Travellers in Spain, a guide that became famous for being far more than a list of routes and lodgings.

Along with his guidebook, Ford also wrote essays and criticism on Spanish subjects, helping introduce many English readers to Spanish culture with unusual energy and detail. He died in 1858, but his reputation has endured as one of the great early writers on travel in Spain.