Martin Martin (Gaelic: Màrtainn Màrtainn) was born at Bealach, near Duntulm, Skye. He graduated MA from the University of Edinburgh in 1681 and entered Leiden University in 1710, graduating as MD. After completing his studies in the Netherlands, he moved to London, where he was resident until his death. Martin is best known for his works A Voyage to St. Kilda (1698) and A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland (1703). He undertook his voyage to St. Kilda in May 1697 and his tour of Lewis in 1699 under the patronage of Hans Sloane, the Secretary of the Royal Society in London. The Scottish antiquary, Sir Robert Sibbald, considered that his command of Gaelic, knowledge of the customs of Gaeldom and connections with Hebridean elites made him well qualified for the task.