George Henry Verrall
Encyclopedia
George Henry Verrall was a British
horse racing
official, entomologist, botanist and Conservative
politician.
, Sussex
. Following education at Lewes Grammar School he became secretary to his elder brother, John Frederick Verrall. John Verrall was a horse-racing official, being clerk of the course at many of the country's biggest meetings. When John died in 1877, George succeeded him. He moved to Newmarket, Suffolk, the centre of the horse-breeding industry, in 1878.
in 1866, was honorary secretary from 1872–1874 and president from 1899 - 1900.
Verrall was one of the most influential British dipterists
and worked extensively on several families with his nephew James Edward Collin, (1876–1968). Verrall purchased the collections of several European dipterists: Ferdinand Kowarz
(1838–1914), which contained many types of Hermann Loew
(1807–1878); Jacques-Marie-Frangile Bigot
and Justin Pierre Marie Macquart
(1778–1855). These, together with the flies (Between them Verrall and Collin described some 900 species
of Diptera) collected by Collin and Verrall himself are in the Hope Entomological Collections at the University of Oxford
. He published two books on the subject:
for their preservation. He was able to rediscover a number of species of flora that had been declared extinct sixty years earlier by Charles Cardale Babington, Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge
.
, and in 1894 he became chairman of the Newmarket and District Conservative Association. He was a member of Cambridgeshire County Council
, Newmarket Urban District Council and Newmarket Board of Guardians
. He was in charge of the 1895 campaign
that led to Colonel Harry McCalmont
winning the parliamentary seat of Newmarket
from the Liberals
. When McCalmont died in 1902, the Liberal Charles Day Rose
regained the seat. In January 1910 he stood against Rose in the general election, becoming Newmarket's member of parliament
. His period in the Commons was only brief, as Rose regained the seat for the Liberals in the ensuing election in December of the same year.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
official, entomologist, botanist and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Horse racing
Verrall was born in LewesLewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
. Following education at Lewes Grammar School he became secretary to his elder brother, John Frederick Verrall. John Verrall was a horse-racing official, being clerk of the course at many of the country's biggest meetings. When John died in 1877, George succeeded him. He moved to Newmarket, Suffolk, the centre of the horse-breeding industry, in 1878.
Entomology
Verrall had a keen interest in natural history, particularly entomology. He joined the Entomological SocietyRoyal Entomological Society of London
The Royal Entomological Society of London is devoted to insect study. It has a major national and international role in disseminating information about insects and improving communication between entomologists....
in 1866, was honorary secretary from 1872–1874 and president from 1899 - 1900.
Verrall was one of the most influential British dipterists
Diptera
Diptera , or true flies, is the order of insects possessing only a single pair of wings on the mesothorax; the metathorax bears a pair of drumstick like structures called the halteres, the remnants of the hind wings. It is a large order, containing an estimated 240,000 species, although under half...
and worked extensively on several families with his nephew James Edward Collin, (1876–1968). Verrall purchased the collections of several European dipterists: Ferdinand Kowarz
Ferdinand Kowarz
Ferdinand Kowarz , was a Bohemian-Austrian entomologist who described many new species of Diptera mainly from central Europe...
(1838–1914), which contained many types of Hermann Loew
Hermann Loew
Friedrich Hermann Loew was a German entomologist who specialised in the study of Diptera, an order of insects including flies, mosquitoes, gnats and midges...
(1807–1878); Jacques-Marie-Frangile Bigot
Jacques-Marie-Frangile Bigot
Jacques Marie Frangile Bigot was a French naturalist and entomologist most noted for his studies of Diptera. Born in Paris, where he lived all his life, though he had a small house in Quincy-sous-Sénart, Essonne.He became a member of the Entomological Society of France in 1844. His first paper...
and Justin Pierre Marie Macquart
Justin Pierre Marie Macquart
Justin Pierre Marie Macquart was a French entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera. He worked on world species as well as European and described many new species.-Early years:...
(1778–1855). These, together with the flies (Between them Verrall and Collin described some 900 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Diptera) collected by Collin and Verrall himself are in the Hope Entomological Collections at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He published two books on the subject:
- Platypezidae, Pipunculidae and Syrphidae of Great Britain. - British flies (1901)
- Stratiomyidae and succeeding families of the Diptera Brachycera of Great Britain- British flies (1909)
Botany
His interest in botany and conserving wildlife led to Verrall purchasing tracts of Wicken FenWicken Fen
Wicken Fen is a wetland nature reserve situated near the village of Wicken, Cambridgeshire, England.It is one of Britain's oldest nature reserves, and was the first reserve acquired by the National Trust, in 1899. The reserve includes fenland, farmland, marsh, and reedbeds...
for their preservation. He was able to rediscover a number of species of flora that had been declared extinct sixty years earlier by Charles Cardale Babington, Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Politics
Politically, Verrall was a strong UnionistUnionism
-Trades:*Community Unionism, describes the various ways in which trade unions can work with communities and community organizations*Craft unionism, an approach to union organizing in the United States and elsewhere that seeks to unify workers in a particular industry along the lines of the...
, and in 1894 he became chairman of the Newmarket and District Conservative Association. He was a member of Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council is the county council of Cambridgeshire, England. The council currently consists of 69 councillors, representing 60 electoral divisions. The Conservative Party has a majority on the council, having gained control in the 1997 local elections...
, Newmarket Urban District Council and Newmarket Board of Guardians
Board of Guardians
Boards of guardians were ad hoc authorities that administered Poor Law in the United Kingdom from 1835 to 1930.-England and Wales:The boards were created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, replacing the parish Overseers of the Poor established under the old poor law, following the recommendations...
. He was in charge of the 1895 campaign
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
that led to Colonel Harry McCalmont
Harry McCalmont
Colonel Harry Leslie Blundell McCalmont was a British army officer, race-horse owner, yachtsman and Conservative party politician....
winning the parliamentary seat of Newmarket
Newmarket (UK Parliament constituency)
Newmarket is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was created upon the splitting up of the three member Cambridgeshire constituency into three single member divisions in 1885. The seat was abolished in 1918.-Boundaries:...
from the Liberals
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
. When McCalmont died in 1902, the Liberal Charles Day Rose
Charles Day Rose
Sir Charles Day Rose, 1st Baronet was a British-Canadian businessman, race horse breeder, yachtsman and Liberal politician.Born in Montreal, he was the second son of Sir John Rose, 1st Baronet...
regained the seat. In January 1910 he stood against Rose in the general election, becoming Newmarket's member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. His period in the Commons was only brief, as Rose regained the seat for the Liberals in the ensuing election in December of the same year.