Aubyn Trevor-Battye
Encyclopedia
Aubyn Bernard Rochfort Trevor-Battye, MA
, MBOU
, FLS
, FRGS
, FZS
(b. 17 July 1855 - 19 December/20 December 1922) was a British
traveller, naturalist and writer.
He was born at Hever, Kent
, where his father, the Reverend William Wilberforce Battye, was Rector. His mother was daughter of Edmund Wakefield Meade-Waldo, resident of Hever Castle
. The Rev. W.W. Battye was a descendant of Sir John Trevor (1626-1672)
and inherited Trevor estates in 1883. Upon his death in 1890 his surviving family took the heraldic arms
of Trevor and the surname Trevor-Battye.
After graduating from Christ Church, Oxford
, in 1887, Aubyn Trevor-Battye travelled widely in North America and Europe, studying ornithology
, shooting game and fishing. In 1894 he made an expedition to the Russian island of Kolguyev
in the Barents Sea
to study its natural history, especially the birds, and the topography (Trevor-Battye 1895). He and his assistant had to make a long unplanned return through northern Russia as winter closed in, an adventure that brought Trevor-Battye to prominence on his return to Britain (Trevor-Battye 1898). He was then invited to join William Martin Conway's expedition to Spitsbergen
in 1896, as their zoologist.
During a period devoted to writing and editing he married Margaret Amy Graham on 1 May 1901. He later resumed his travels and studies of natural history. He travelled extensively in Europe, often on collecting expeditions or visiting zoological gardens. He made two visits to southern Africa (1905 and 1910), and explored Crete
in 1908 and a second time, probably 1909 (Trevor-Battye 1913). In 1914 he travelled in India
, Nepal
and Sikkim
in company with Henry John Elwes
.
After the 1914-1918 War
he resumed his writing and editing, but due to deteriorating health he moved to the Canary Islands
. He died there, at Las Palmas
, on the 19th or 20 December 1922, aged 67.
He published four books of his own and a chapter in the Spitsbergen report (Trevor-Battye 1897) and over 20 papers in learned journals, mainly about ornithology. He was Editor to the Natural History section of the Victoria History of the Counties of England
series (c. 1899-1902) and he edited some writings of his friend Lord Lilford (Trevor-Battye 1903). Other publications included short stories and popular articles and he edited many other articles.
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
, MBOU
British Ornithologists' Union
The British Ornithologists' Union aims to encourage the study of birds in Britain, Europe and elsewhere, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation....
, FLS
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
, FRGS
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, FZS
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
(b. 17 July 1855 - 19 December/20 December 1922) was a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
traveller, naturalist and writer.
He was born at Hever, Kent
Hever, Kent
Hever is a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. The parish is located on the River Eden, a tributary of the River Medway, east of Edenbridge. It is by in extent, and in area...
, where his father, the Reverend William Wilberforce Battye, was Rector. His mother was daughter of Edmund Wakefield Meade-Waldo, resident of Hever Castle
Hever Castle
Hever Castle is located in the village of Hever near Edenbridge, Kent, south-east of London, England. It began as a country house, built in the 13th century...
. The Rev. W.W. Battye was a descendant of Sir John Trevor (1626-1672)
John Trevor (1626-1672)
Sir John Trevor was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1646 and 1672.Trevor was a son of Sir John Trevor of Trevalyn Hall, Denbighshire...
and inherited Trevor estates in 1883. Upon his death in 1890 his surviving family took the heraldic arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Trevor and the surname Trevor-Battye.
After graduating from Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, in 1887, Aubyn Trevor-Battye travelled widely in North America and Europe, studying ornithology
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
, shooting game and fishing. In 1894 he made an expedition to the Russian island of Kolguyev
Kolguyev
Kolguyev Island is an island in Nenets Autonomous Okrug Russia located in the south-eastern Barents Sea to the north-east of the Kanin Peninsula. The approximately circular-shaped island has a diameter of and is in area. The highest point on the island is at 166 meters...
in the Barents Sea
Barents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
to study its natural history, especially the birds, and the topography (Trevor-Battye 1895). He and his assistant had to make a long unplanned return through northern Russia as winter closed in, an adventure that brought Trevor-Battye to prominence on his return to Britain (Trevor-Battye 1898). He was then invited to join William Martin Conway's expedition to Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
in 1896, as their zoologist.
During a period devoted to writing and editing he married Margaret Amy Graham on 1 May 1901. He later resumed his travels and studies of natural history. He travelled extensively in Europe, often on collecting expeditions or visiting zoological gardens. He made two visits to southern Africa (1905 and 1910), and explored Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
in 1908 and a second time, probably 1909 (Trevor-Battye 1913). In 1914 he travelled in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
in company with Henry John Elwes
Henry John Elwes
Henry John Elwes, FRS was a British botanist, entomologist, author, lepidopterist, naturalist, collector and traveller who became renowned for collecting specimens of lilies during trips to the Himalayas and Korea. He was the first person to receive the Victoria Medal of the Royal Horticultural...
.
After the 1914-1918 War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he resumed his writing and editing, but due to deteriorating health he moved to the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
. He died there, at Las Palmas
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria commonly known as Las Palmas is the political capital, jointly with Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 383,308 in 2010. Nearly half of the people of the island...
, on the 19th or 20 December 1922, aged 67.
He published four books of his own and a chapter in the Spitsbergen report (Trevor-Battye 1897) and over 20 papers in learned journals, mainly about ornithology. He was Editor to the Natural History section of the Victoria History of the Counties of England
Victoria County History
The Victoria History of the Counties of England, commonly known as the Victoria County History or the VCH, is an English history project which began in 1899 and was dedicated to Queen Victoria with the aim of creating an encyclopaedic history of each of the historic counties of...
series (c. 1899-1902) and he edited some writings of his friend Lord Lilford (Trevor-Battye 1903). Other publications included short stories and popular articles and he edited many other articles.
Biographies
- Branch, M (1970) "British travellers among the Samoyeds". Journal de la Société Finno-Ougrienne 72: 42-55.
- Horder, M (1974) "Trevor-Battye: a Victorian in the Arctic". The Cornhill Magazine, no 1079: 228-237.
- Stone, I.R. (1986) "Profile: Aubyn Trevor-Battye". Polar Record 23: 177-181.
- Evans, M.H. (2005) "Aubyn B.R. Trevor-Battye, 1855-1922". Unpublished annotated biography, typescript copies at the Royal Geographical Society, Christ Church (Oxford) and the Scott Polar Research Institute.
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: "Battye, Aubyn Bernard Rochfort Trevor-"
- Obituary: "First explorer of Kolguev. Death of Mr Trevor-Battye". The Times Dec 22, 1922, p. 12.
- Obituary: "Aubyn Trevor-Battye". Geographical Journal 61 (3), 229-230, March 1923.
- Obituary: "Aubyn Bernard Rochfort Trevor-Battye". Ibis 332-334, 1923.
- Obituary: "Aubyn Bernard Rochfort Trevor-Battye". The Avicultural Magazine 4th ser, 1 p. 9, 1923.