Jack Vincent
Encyclopedia
Jack Vincent MBE
(March 6, 1904 - July 3, 1999) was an English ornithologist.
. At age 21 he moved to South Africa
where he worked on two farms in the Richmond
district of the Natal Province
. In the 1920s he went back to England where he became a bird collector for the British Museum
in London
. From the late 1920s to the early 1930s he accompanied Admiral
Hubert Lynes
on several ornithological expeditions to East Africa
, Central Africa
and Southern Africa
. Most memorable was his travel to the Mount Namuli
massif in Mozambique
in 1932 where he discovered some bird taxa new to science including the Namuli apalis
(Apalis lynesi) and the Dapple-throat
(Modulatrix orostruthus). In 1934 he married the Scottish girl Mary Russell in Cape Town
. In 1937 Vincent bought a farm in the Mooi River
district of Natal.
During World War II he served as Colonel
with the Natal Carbineers
in East and Northern Africa. Afterwards he was awarded Member of the British Empire
for his services. In 1942 he moved to a post at the British Army
in Haifa
, British Mandate of Palestine.
In 1949 Jack Vincent became corresponding member of the American Ornithologists' Union
and the first director of the Natal Parks, Game and Fish Preservation Board (in short: Natal Parks Board), a body which played an important role in the conservation of the White Rhinoceros
in KwaZulu-Natal
in the 1950s. From the late 1940s to the early 1950s he was editor of "The Ostrich" the journal of the South African Ornithological Society.
From 1963 to 1967 he took part on conservation projects of the International Council for Bird Preservation (now: BirdLife International
). For this work he received the gold medal of the World Wildlife Fund
. In 1967 he rejoined the Natal Parks Board before he retired in 1974. After the death of his wife Mary in 1989 Jack Vincent moved to Pietermaritzburg
. In 1993 he got the honorary Doctorate degree of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
. In 1999 he died at age 95 in Pietermaritzburg.
In 1950 the extremely rare Vincent's Bush Squirrel
(Paraxerus vincenti) endemic to Mount Namuli was named in honour to Jack Vincent.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(March 6, 1904 - July 3, 1999) was an English ornithologist.
Biography
Vincent was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. At age 21 he moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he worked on two farms in the Richmond
Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal
Richmond is a town situated on the banks of the upper Illovo River in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, approximately 38 km south-west of Pietermaritzburg. Timber, sugarcane, poultry, citrus fruit and dairy goods are produced here...
district of the Natal Province
Natal Province
Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Province included the bantustan of KwaZulu...
. In the 1920s he went back to England where he became a bird collector for the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. From the late 1920s to the early 1930s he accompanied Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Hubert Lynes
Hubert Lynes
Rear Admiral Hubert Lynes CB, CMG was a British admiral whose First World War service was notable for his direction of the Zeebrugge and Ostend raids designed to neutralise the German-held port of Bruges, which was used as a raiding base against the British coastline by German Navy surface and...
on several ornithological expeditions to East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, Central Africa
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
and Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. Most memorable was his travel to the Mount Namuli
Mount Namuli
Mount Namuli is the highest peak in the Zambezia Province of Mozambique. With 2,419 metre it is the second highest mountain of Mozambique behind the Monte Binga. The Namuli massif consists of a level plateau which rises 700 to 800 metre. The granite dome of the Namuli rises 1,600 metre above the...
massif in Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
in 1932 where he discovered some bird taxa new to science including the Namuli apalis
Namuli Apalis
The Namuli Apalis is a small African passerine bird belonging to the genus Apalis in the family Cisticolidae. It was previously classified as a subspecies of the Bar-throated Apalis The Namuli Apalis (Apalis lynesi) is a small African passerine bird belonging to the genus Apalis in the family...
(Apalis lynesi) and the Dapple-throat
Dapple-throat
The Dappled Mountain-robin or Dapple-throat is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests....
(Modulatrix orostruthus). In 1934 he married the Scottish girl Mary Russell in 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...
. In 1937 Vincent bought a farm in the Mooi River
Mooi River (river)
The Mooi River is a river in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. It rises in the Mkomazi Nature Reserve in the Drakensberg Mountains, and empties into the Tugela River near Muden. The town of Mooi River lies on the river.-Name:...
district of Natal.
During World War II he served as Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
with the Natal Carbineers
Natal Carbineers
The Natal Carbineers Regiment is an Infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.- South Africa, 1879 :...
in East and Northern Africa. Afterwards he was awarded Member of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for his services. In 1942 he moved to a post at the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, British Mandate of Palestine.
In 1949 Jack Vincent became corresponding member of the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
and the first director of the Natal Parks, Game and Fish Preservation Board (in short: Natal Parks Board), a body which played an important role in the conservation of the White Rhinoceros
White Rhinoceros
The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species...
in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
in the 1950s. From the late 1940s to the early 1950s he was editor of "The Ostrich" the journal of the South African Ornithological Society.
From 1963 to 1967 he took part on conservation projects of the International Council for Bird Preservation (now: BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
). For this work he received the gold medal of the World Wildlife Fund
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
. In 1967 he rejoined the Natal Parks Board before he retired in 1974. After the death of his wife Mary in 1989 Jack Vincent moved to Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
. In 1993 he got the honorary Doctorate degree of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
. In 1999 he died at age 95 in Pietermaritzburg.
In 1950 the extremely rare Vincent's Bush Squirrel
Vincent's Bush Squirrel
The Vincent's Bush Squirrel is a species of rodent in the Sciuridae family. It is endemic to Mozambique. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss....
(Paraxerus vincenti) endemic to Mount Namuli was named in honour to Jack Vincent.
Works (Selected)
- Check List of the Birds of South Africa, 1952
- The Red Book: Wildlife in Danger, 1969
- Web of Experience: An Autobiography, 1989