Edward William Lane (17 September 1801, Hereford, England—10 August 1876, Worthing, Sussex) was a British Orientalist, translator and lexicographer.
Lane was the third son of the Rev. Dr Theopilus Lane, and grandnephew of Gainsborough on his mother's side. After his father's death in 1814, Lane was sent to grammar school at Bath and then Hereford, where he showed a talent for mathematics. He visited Cambridge, but did not enroll in any of its colleges.
Instead, Lane joined his brother Richard in London, studying engraving with him. At the same time Lane began his study of Arabic on his own. However, his health soon deteriorated. For the sake of his health and of a new career, he set sail to Egypt.
Read more about Edward William Lane: Egypt, 1001 Nights, Marriage, Dictionary and Other Works
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