Brooke Dolan
Encyclopedia
Brooke Dolan II was an American
adventurer and naturalist
in the 1930s and 1940s. His father was Brooke Dolan, a wealthy American industrialist in Philadelphia. During World War II
, he served as a lieutenant
.
in Philadelphia. He led two expedition
s to China
and eastern Tibet
in 1931 and 1934 to 1935. The first expedition comprised Ernst Schäfer
, a German
zoologist, Gordon Bowles, Otto Gneiser, and Hugo Weigold
. The second comprised Schäfer and Marion Duncan, an American missionary
.
He was married to Emilie Gerhard, who accompanied him for a while on the second trip to China.
In October 1942 he traveled with Ilia Tolstoy to Lhasa
as a member of the Office of Strategic Services
(OSS), and met the young Dalai Lama
, Tenzin Gyatso, and the Tibetan government. Tolstoy and Dolan are considered to have gone beyond their authority in leading the Tibetan government to believe the United States
had given international political recognition to Tibet.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
adventurer and naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
in the 1930s and 1940s. His father was Brooke Dolan, a wealthy American industrialist in Philadelphia. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he served as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.
Overview
Brooke Dolan II was associated with the Academy of Natural SciencesAcademy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
in Philadelphia. He led two expedition
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
s to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and eastern Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
in 1931 and 1934 to 1935. The first expedition comprised Ernst Schäfer
Ernst Schäfer
Ernst Schäfer was a famous German hunter and zoologist in the 1930s, specializing in ornithology.-Biography:Schäfer is most famous for his three expeditions to Tibet in 1931, in 1934–1935, and in 1938–1939. The first two expeditions were led by the American Brooke Dolan II...
, a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
zoologist, Gordon Bowles, Otto Gneiser, and Hugo Weigold
Hugo Weigold
Max Hugo Weigold was a German zoologist and a pioneer bird bander who established the Heligoland Bird Observatory, one of the world’s first.Weigold was born in Dresden. He studied natural sciences and geography in Jena and Leipzig...
. The second comprised Schäfer and Marion Duncan, an American missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
.
He was married to Emilie Gerhard, who accompanied him for a while on the second trip to China.
In October 1942 he traveled with Ilia Tolstoy to Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
as a member of the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
(OSS), and met the young Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
, Tenzin Gyatso, and the Tibetan government. Tolstoy and Dolan are considered to have gone beyond their authority in leading the Tibetan government to believe the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
had given international political recognition to Tibet.