The Amazing World of James Hector Explorer, Doctor, Geologist, Botanist, Natural Historian, and One of New Zealand's Most Remarkable Figures

by Nathan, Simon; Varnham, Mary; Campbell, Hamish

• ISBN13: 9780958275071
• ISBN10: 0958275076
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-09-01
• Publisher: Awa Press

Summary

Within seven and a half years of his arrival in New Zealand at the age of 28, James Hector had founded and was in charge of all the country's major scientific institutions. Today these institutionsunder their modern names GNS Science, the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Royal Society of New Zealandstill form the scientific backbone of New Zealand. The first biography of this pioneer, this compelling celebration shows Hector as an inspired scientist who researched and wrote on a variety of topicsranging from the geology of coal fields to the fossil skeletons of whalesan avid botanist whose name is borne by 13 plant species, and a geologist who produced maps of enduring quality. His extraordinary life and work is vividly celebrated in this anthology of essays from New Zealand's foremost scientists and his own descendents.

Author Biography

Simon Nathan is a geologist and former editor of Te Ara, the online encyclopedia of New Zealand. Mary Varnham is the publishing director of Awa Press and author of Beyond Blue Hills and Heading Nowhere in a Navy Blue Suit. Hamish Campbell is the geologist at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the coauthor of The Transit of Venus.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Surveying Canada: The Palliser Expedition	p. 9
Exploring the South: Otago Provincial Government	p. 27
Mapping the Country: New Zealand Geological Survey	p. 37
Displaying Natural History: Colonial Museum	p. 49
Promoting Science: New Zealand Institute	p. 63
Planting for Prosperity: Colonial Botanic Garden	p. 73
Forecasting the Weather and Telling the Time: Meteorological Department and Colonial Observatory	p. 83
Educating-or Examining?: University of New Zealand	p. 95
Running the Show: Scientific Empire	p. 105
Studying Plants and Animals: New Zealand Biology	p. 113
Unveiling the Past: Vertebrate Fossils	p. 127
Settling Down: Husband and Father	p. 139
Living at Ratanui: Man of Property	p. 149
Being Honoured: Pioneer Man of Science	p. 157
Further Reading	p. 164
Plant and Animal Names that Commemorate	p. 168
Index	p. 175
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