FINCH, William. 15?? — Baghdad ?.8.1613. British Merchant and Traveller in India. Native of London. He came to Surat with Hawkins in 1608 and had to stay there because of an illness, but joined later Hawkins in spring 1610 at Jahangir’s court and spent one and a half year in Agra, Fatehpur and Delhi. Now he parted from Hawkins and travelled alone visiting i.al. Lahore. Died during the land travel to Europe “from drinking poisoned water” on his way to Aleppo. He was a keen observer of trade and natural resources and kept a detailed diary (which breaks off in Lahore). The manuscript is lost, but most of it was published by Purchas. It consists of two parts, the first deaking with Sierra Leone and Soqotra, the second with India.
Publications: Journal originally published by Purchas 1625; India as seen by William Finch, A.D. 1608–1611. Ed. by R. Nath. 124 p. Jaipur 1990.
Sources: J. B[urnle]y, D.N.B. 19, 1889, 20; Foster 1921, 122-187; Oaten 1909, 155-158; Prasad 1980, 202-233; Wikipedia.
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