Arthur Stark
Encyclopedia
Arthur Cowell Stark was a medical doctor and naturalist. He emigrated from Torquay
, England to Cape Town
, South Africa in 1892. He lived in (the British colonies of) South Africa during the last 7 years of his life and died during the Siege of Ladysmith
at the age of 53. He is best known for initiating an ornithological work, The Birds of South Africa.
as the eldest of three sons of John and Anne Stark. John was a successful ironmonger, and at times a furniture manufacturer. Arthur Stark was educated at Blundell's School
and Clifton College
. John Stark died in 1863 when Arthur was 16, from which time he took responsibility for the family's business. He worked as ironmonger up to the age of 26, when he married his distant cousin Rosa Cox. For a time they lived in Weston-super-Mare
, before Arthur started his medical studies at Edinburgh University at age 30.
His travels up to 1898 included forays into the inland regions of the Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal, while he consulted the major specimen collections of the time, at the South African Museum, Albany Museum
in Grahamstown and the Durban Museum. Besides his personal notes, he accumulated bird eggs, bird nests and butterfly specimens, some of which were added to his personal collection.
He moved from Cape Town to Durban shortly before the outbreak of the Boer War
and travelled to England in 1899 to oversee the printing of the first volume of his ornithological work, The Birds of South Africa. The completed series was meant to form part of a wider project under the editorship of William Sclater
, director of the South African Museum, describing the fauna of southern Africa. Dr Stark returned to the Colony of Natal
in September, 1899, where he volunteered as medical officer for the British forces when the Boer War
broke out.
he was resident in the Royal Hotel, but spent the days in shell-proof dugouts along the Klip River, or fishing, while the town was being shelled by Boer
forces. Dr Stark had just returned and was standing on the hotel's veranda on the evening of November 18, 1899, when at 19:30 the Long Tom cannon stationed on Pepworth Hill fired two shots at the hotel. These were aimed at important persons who may have assembled there, probably Dr. Jameson
and Colonel Rhodes
who were known to be in town.
Dr Stark's legs were mangled by the second shell and he died shortly afterwards on the operating table. Dr Stark was buried in Ladysmith. H.W. Nevinson who was present records the irony of him being a strong opponent of the Chamberlain policy, and a vigorous denouncer of the war's injustice.
, director of the South African Museum, to be prepared for the second volume of the The Birds of South Africa. This volume appeared in 1902 as part of Sclater's series The Fauna of South Africa.
William Sclater named Laniarius starki
for him in 1901, and Captain George Shelley
followed by naming Stark's Lark
, Spizocorys starki, in Dr Stark's honour in 1902. William Sclater
, Dr Stark's co-author of The Birds of South Africa, died in 1944 from injuries sustained from a V-1 flying bomb
dropped in London.
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, England to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa in 1892. He lived in (the British colonies of) South Africa during the last 7 years of his life and died during the Siege of Ladysmith
Siege of Ladysmith
The Siege of Ladysmith was a protracted engagement in the Second Boer War, taking place between 30 October 1899 and 28 February 1900 at Ladysmith, Natal.-Background:...
at the age of 53. He is best known for initiating an ornithological work, The Birds of South Africa.
Early life
Arthur Stark was born in TorquayTorquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
as the eldest of three sons of John and Anne Stark. John was a successful ironmonger, and at times a furniture manufacturer. Arthur Stark was educated at Blundell's School
Blundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
and Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
. John Stark died in 1863 when Arthur was 16, from which time he took responsibility for the family's business. He worked as ironmonger up to the age of 26, when he married his distant cousin Rosa Cox. For a time they lived in Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
, before Arthur started his medical studies at Edinburgh University at age 30.
South African work
After the death of Rosa in 1892, he settled in Cape Town, while his daughters remained in England. Besides practicing as medical doctor he travelled regularly to collect animal specimens for the South African Museum and made sketches and extensive notes of his observations.His travels up to 1898 included forays into the inland regions of the Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal, while he consulted the major specimen collections of the time, at the South African Museum, Albany Museum
Albany Museum, South Africa
The Albany Museum, South Africa is situated in Grahamstown in South Africa, is affiliated to Rhodes University and dates back to 1855, making it the second oldest museum in South Africa....
in Grahamstown and the Durban Museum. Besides his personal notes, he accumulated bird eggs, bird nests and butterfly specimens, some of which were added to his personal collection.
He moved from Cape Town to Durban shortly before the outbreak of the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
and travelled to England in 1899 to oversee the printing of the first volume of his ornithological work, The Birds of South Africa. The completed series was meant to form part of a wider project under the editorship of William Sclater
William Lutley Sclater
William Lutley Sclater was a British zoologist and museum director. He was the son of Philip Lutley Sclater, and was named after his paternal grandfather, also William Lutley Sclater....
, director of the South African Museum, describing the fauna of southern Africa. Dr Stark returned to the Colony of Natal
Colony of Natal
The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on May 4, 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its...
in September, 1899, where he volunteered as medical officer for the British forces when the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
broke out.
Death at Ladysmith
During the siege of LadysmithLadysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Ladysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is north-west of Durban and south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textile and tyre production...
he was resident in the Royal Hotel, but spent the days in shell-proof dugouts along the Klip River, or fishing, while the town was being shelled by Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
forces. Dr Stark had just returned and was standing on the hotel's veranda on the evening of November 18, 1899, when at 19:30 the Long Tom cannon stationed on Pepworth Hill fired two shots at the hotel. These were aimed at important persons who may have assembled there, probably Dr. Jameson
Leander Starr Jameson
Sir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, , also known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", was a British colonial statesman who was best known for his involvement in the Jameson Raid....
and Colonel Rhodes
Francis William Rhodes
Colonel Francis William Rhodes, CB, DSO , better known as "Frank", is perhaps the best known member of the Rhodes family after his brother Cecil. Trained as a soldier from his youth, he participated in a considerable amount of conflict in different parts of the world...
who were known to be in town.
Dr Stark's legs were mangled by the second shell and he died shortly afterwards on the operating table. Dr Stark was buried in Ladysmith. H.W. Nevinson who was present records the irony of him being a strong opponent of the Chamberlain policy, and a vigorous denouncer of the war's injustice.
Completion of project
Dr Stark's field notes were afterwards recovered from Ladysmith and his Durban home. His executors entrusted these to William SclaterWilliam Lutley Sclater
William Lutley Sclater was a British zoologist and museum director. He was the son of Philip Lutley Sclater, and was named after his paternal grandfather, also William Lutley Sclater....
, director of the South African Museum, to be prepared for the second volume of the The Birds of South Africa. This volume appeared in 1902 as part of Sclater's series The Fauna of South Africa.
William Sclater named Laniarius starki
Grey-headed Bush-shrike
The Grey-headed Bushshrike is a species of bird in the Malaconotidae family.It is found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,...
for him in 1901, and Captain George Shelley
George Ernest Shelley
Captain George Ernest Shelley was an English geologist and ornithologist. He was a nephew of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley....
followed by naming Stark's Lark
Stark's Lark
The Stark's Lark is a species of lark in the Alaudidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. Captain George Shelley named the species in honor of Arthur Stark.-References:* BirdLife...
, Spizocorys starki, in Dr Stark's honour in 1902. William Sclater
William Lutley Sclater
William Lutley Sclater was a British zoologist and museum director. He was the son of Philip Lutley Sclater, and was named after his paternal grandfather, also William Lutley Sclater....
, Dr Stark's co-author of The Birds of South Africa, died in 1944 from injuries sustained from a V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
dropped in London.
External reference
- The birds of South Africa (1900), Volume 1 at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- Author Stark's family tree