James Theodore Bent (1852-1897) was an English explorer, archaeologist and author. He was educated at Repton School and Wadham College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1875. He went abroad every year and became thoroughly acquainted with Italy and Greece. In 1879 he published a book on the republic of San Marino, entitled A Freak of Freedom, and was made a citizen of San Marino. Bent then visited at considerable risk the almost unknown Hadramut country (1893-1894), and during this and later journeys in southern Arabia he studied the ancient history of the country, its physical features and actual condition. Mrs. Theodore, (Mabel Virginia Anna) Bent, nee Hall- Dare (1846-1929) was James Theodore Bent's wife and companion in all his travels. She contributed by her skill as a photographer and in other ways to the success of her husband's journeys. In 1900 she published Southern Arabia (with her husband), in which were given the results of their last expedition into that region.