Sandy Wollaston
Encyclopedia
Alexander Frederick Richmond “Sandy” Wollaston (1875 - 3 June 1930) was a British
medical doctor, ornithologist
, botanist
, climber and explorer
.
Wollaston was educated at Clifton College
and studied medicine
at King's College
, Cambridge
, graduating in 1896 and qualifying as a surgeon
in 1903. However, he disliked the medical profession and preferred to spend his life on exploration and natural history
. He travelled extensively, visiting Lapland, the Dolomites
, Sudan
and Japan
, as well as participating in an expedition to the Ruwenzori Mountains
of Uganda
in 1905.
Wollaston was murdered by Douglas Potts, a student, at his rooms in Cambridge. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,739543,00.html
Expedition to the Snow Mountains
of Netherlands New Guinea
in 1910–11. The main aim was to climb the highest mountains there as well as to collect biological and ethnological
specimens. However, the expedition was unsuccessful in its primary aim largely because of obfuscation by the Dutch authorities.
In 1912–13 Wollaston led a second expedition (the Wollaston Expedition) to New Guinea
. There he succeeded in climbing to within 150 m of the summit of the Carstensz Pyramid
, at 4884 m the highest peak on the island, and one not summited until 1962. He is commemorated in the name of a bat – Wollaston's Roundleaf Bat
, Hipposideros wollastoni.
A third expedition to New Guinea was planned but fell through because of the outbreak of the First World War
, during which he served as a surgeon in the Royal Navy
.
Wollaston took part (as doctor, ornithologist and botanist) in the first British reconnaissance expedition to Mount Everest
in 1921. It was in the course of this expedition that he discovered a new Primula
, a flower which was subsequently named after him as Wollaston’s Primrose, Primula wollastonii.
In 1923 Wollaston married Mary "Polly" Meinertzhagen, the sister of Richard Meinertzhagen
, with whom he had three children.
He was elected to a Fellowship in the Royal Geographic Society (RGS) in 1907, and received the Gill Memorial in 1914, followed by the RGS Patron's Medal in 1925 for his expeditions into Africa and New Guinea. He was appointed Honorary Secretary of the RGS in 1928.
Wollaston was invited by John Maynard Keynes
to be a tutor at Cambridge
. He was killed in 1930 in his rooms at King's College
by a deranged student, D. N. Potts, who fatally shot Wollaston and a police officer before shooting himself in a triple murder-suicide
.
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...
medical doctor, ornithologist
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...
, botanist
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, climber and explorer
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...
.
Wollaston was educated at 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...
and studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at King's College
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, 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...
, graduating in 1896 and qualifying as a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
in 1903. However, he disliked the medical profession and preferred to spend his life on exploration and natural history
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...
. He travelled extensively, visiting Lapland, the Dolomites
Dolomites
The Dolomites are a mountain range located in north-eastern Italy. It is a part of Southern Limestone Alps and extends from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley and the Sugana Valley...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, as well as participating in an expedition to the Ruwenzori Mountains
Ruwenzori Range
The Rwenzori Mountains, previously called the Ruwenzori Range , and sometimes the Mountains of the Moon, is a mountain range of central Africa, often referred to as Mt...
of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
in 1905.
Wollaston was murdered by Douglas Potts, a student, at his rooms in Cambridge. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,739543,00.html
Expeditions to New Guinea
Wollaston participated in the BOUBritish 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....
Expedition to the Snow Mountains
Sudirman Range
The Sudirman Range or Dugunduguoo or Nassau Range is a mountain range in Papua province, Indonesia.Located at , it comprises a western portion of the Maoke Mountains. The highest peak in Oceania and Australasia, Puncak Jaya , is located here, as well as the large Grasberg copper and gold mine,...
of Netherlands New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea
Netherlands New Guinea refers to the West Papua region while it was an overseas territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1949 to 1962. Until 1949 it was a part of the Netherlands Indies. It was commonly known as Dutch New Guinea...
in 1910–11. The main aim was to climb the highest mountains there as well as to collect biological and ethnological
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
specimens. However, the expedition was unsuccessful in its primary aim largely because of obfuscation by the Dutch authorities.
In 1912–13 Wollaston led a second expedition (the Wollaston Expedition) to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. There he succeeded in climbing to within 150 m of the summit of the Carstensz Pyramid
Puncak Jaya
Puncak Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid is the highest summit of Mount Carstensz in the Sudirman Range of the western central highlands of Papua province, Indonesia . Other summits are East Carstensz Peak and Ngga Pulu...
, at 4884 m the highest peak on the island, and one not summited until 1962. He is commemorated in the name of a bat – Wollaston's Roundleaf Bat
Wollaston's Roundleaf Bat
Wollaston's Roundleaf Bat is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It was named after the explorer Sandy Wollaston.-Source:...
, Hipposideros wollastoni.
A third expedition to New Guinea was planned but fell through because of the outbreak of the First World 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...
, during which he served as a surgeon in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Wollaston took part (as doctor, ornithologist and botanist) in the first British reconnaissance expedition to Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
in 1921. It was in the course of this expedition that he discovered a new Primula
Primula
Primula is a genus of 400–500 species of low-growing herbs in the family Primulaceae. They include primrose, auricula, cowslip and oxlip. Many species are grown for their ornamental flowers...
, a flower which was subsequently named after him as Wollaston’s Primrose, Primula wollastonii.
In 1923 Wollaston married Mary "Polly" Meinertzhagen, the sister of Richard Meinertzhagen
Richard Meinertzhagen
Colonel Richard Henry Meinertzhagen CBE DSO was a British soldier, intelligence officer and ornithologist.- Background and youth :Meinertzhagen was born into a socially connected, wealthy British family...
, with whom he had three children.
He was elected to a Fellowship in the Royal Geographic Society (RGS) in 1907, and received the Gill Memorial in 1914, followed by the RGS Patron's Medal in 1925 for his expeditions into Africa and New Guinea. He was appointed Honorary Secretary of the RGS in 1928.
Wollaston was invited by John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes, Baron Keynes of Tilton, CB FBA , was a British economist whose ideas have profoundly affected the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics, as well as the economic policies of governments...
to be a tutor at 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...
. He was killed in 1930 in his rooms at King's College
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
by a deranged student, D. N. Potts, who fatally shot Wollaston and a police officer before shooting himself in a triple murder-suicide
Murder-suicide
A murder–suicide is an act in which an individual kills one or more other persons before or at the same time as killing himself or herself. The combination of murder and suicide can take various forms, including:...
.
Further reading
- Ballard, Chris; Vink, Steven; & Ploeg, Anton. (2001). Race to the Snow. Photography and the exploration of Dutch New Guinea, 1907-1936. Royal Tropical Institute: Amsterdam. ISBN 90-6832-511-6
- Wollaston, Nicholas. (2003). My Father, Sandy. Short Books. ISBN 1-904095-44-5