Francis Brinkley (30 December 1841 – 12 October 1912)[1] was an Anglo-Irish newspaper owner, editor and scholar who resided in Meiji period Japan for over 40 years, where he was the author of numerous books on Japanese culture, art and architecture and an English-Japanese Dictionary.

Brinkley went to Royal School Dungannon before entering Trinity College, where he received the highest records in mathematics and classics.

In this capacity his cousin, Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell the 6th Governor of Hong Kong (1866–1872), invited him out to the east to serve as his Aide-de-camp and Adjutant.

In 1866, on his way to Hong Kong, Brinkley visited Nagasaki and witnessed a duel between two samurai warriors.

Once the victor had slain his opponent he immediately covered him in his haori and "knelt down with hands clasped in prayer".

It is said that Brinkley was so impressed by the conduct of the Japanese warrior that this enticed him to live in Japan permanently.

He resigned his commission in 1871 to take up the post of foreign advisor to the new Meiji government, and taught artillery techniques to the new Imperial Japanese Navy at the Naval Gunnery School.

MacKenzie, a prominent English journalist, wrote: Captain Brinkley's great knowledge of Japanese life and language is admitted and admired by all.

Frank Brinkley had many hobbies which included gardening, collecting Japanese art and pottery, cricket, tennis, horse riding and hunting.

"[3] On his death bed Frank Brinkley had told his son, Jack, of an episode that occurred during the Russo-Japanese War.