Bahaipedia:Today's featured individual/December 7

Edward Browne was a British orientalist who published many books and articles on the Bábí and Bahá’í religions. Browne was born in Uley near Dursley in Gloucestershire on February 7, 1862 and is best known to modern Bahá’ís for his description of his meeting with Bahá’u’lláh. Browne's scholarly reputation has endured until the present. His mastery of Iranian culture and thought has been equaled by few Westerners before or since, and his scholarship, as well as the eloquence and grace of his literary style, have given his works permanent value, even after great changes in scholarly methodology. The Iranians, despite their early suspicion about his interest in the Bábís, accepted him as a loyal friend for his scholarship, his political support, and his sympathetic understanding of their culture and literature.