He spent his youth in the merchant navy and, captured by the French during the Peninsular Wars, he was imprisoned in Corunna.  On his release, he travelled across Europe, to the Holy Land and ended up in Kolkata.  He published ‘Travels In Palestine’ (1821) and ‘Travels Among the Arab Tribes (1825) and, after years of wandering he settled in India. 

A man of liberal persuasion, he established a periodical, the Calcutta Journal (1818) in the face of the opposition of the East India Company who opposed a free press.  The newspaper’s criticisms of the Company led to its suppression and Buckingham’s deportation from the dominion. 

On his return to England he settled in the magnificent Nash – designed Cornwall Terrace in Regent’s Park, established the ‘Oriental Herald and Colonial Review’ and served as MP for Sheffield (1832 – 1836),  campaigning for the abolition of flogging in the armed services and the  press gang and the repeal of the Corn Laws. On retiring from Parliament, he travelled across North America, writing all the time.  

A few months before his death he had published the second volume of his autobiography which is the main source of information about the famous musician, Joseph Antonio Emidy (April 23^rd). In 1806, Buckingham married Elizabeth Jennings (1786–1865). Their youngest son, Leicester Silk Buckingham, was a popular playwright of the 1860s.