Christopher Harison
Encyclopedia
Christopher Harison was a Conservator of Forests and an authority on forest practice in South Africa.
He first arrived in the Cape
in 1849 as a captain in the Perthshire Regiment
(later the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch
, Royal Highland Regiment) to take part in the Eighth Frontier War
(1850–1853). He resigned his commission on returning to England, married Louise Marie Millett Moorman, the daughter of a naval officer, and returned to Cape Agulhas
to breed horses. The stud farm was not a success - Harison joined the Government Forest Service and in 1856 was appointed Conservator over a large section of the Southern Cape forests, namely the Tsitsikamma forests eastward to Alexandria
. His headquarters were located at Witelsbos near Storms River
. In 1874 he became Conservator of a newly created conservancy including the forests of George
, Knysna
and Humansdorp
. In 1888 he transferred to Tokai
in Cape Town
as Conservator over the Western Conservancy.
Thomas Bain
and Christopher Harison first explored the feasibility of the Grootrivier Pass near Nature's Valley
in 1868. Harison's interest in the building of the road stemmed from his belief that it could be used to halt the runaway destruction of the forest started by Dutch East India Company
woodcutters in 1777 and carried on by their descendants. During his career as Conservator he was tireless in his efforts to preserve the forests and wildlife for posterity. A giant yellowwood in the Tsitsikamma Forest is named in his honour. He retired to Knysna in 1895.
His son, Launcelot Malcolm Harison, attended St Andrew's College in Grahamstown
from 1869 to 1874. He was finally attached to Lord Methuen
's staff and became president of the Military Court.
His daughter, Eliza 'Bessie' Georgiana Harison, married Charles Wilhelm Thesen
(1856–1940) of Knysna and produced ten children. She died in 1901 of complications during pregnancy at the age of thirty-eight.
He first arrived in the Cape
Cape
Cape can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck. They were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic...
in 1849 as a captain in the Perthshire Regiment
73rd Regiment of Foot
The 73rd Regiment of Foot also known as MacLeod's Highlanders after its founder John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod, was an infantry regiment of the British Army.- History :- First raising :...
(later the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
, Royal Highland Regiment) to take part in the Eighth Frontier War
Xhosa wars
The Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
(1850–1853). He resigned his commission on returning to England, married Louise Marie Millett Moorman, the daughter of a naval officer, and returned to Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas is a rocky headland in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is the geographic southern tip of Africa and the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to breed horses. The stud farm was not a success - Harison joined the Government Forest Service and in 1856 was appointed Conservator over a large section of the Southern Cape forests, namely the Tsitsikamma forests eastward to Alexandria
Alexandria, Eastern Cape
Alexandria, South Africa is a small farming town in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and is situated 100 km North East of Port Elizabeth on the way to Bushman's River Mouth, Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred...
. His headquarters were located at Witelsbos near Storms River
Storms River
Storms River is a river in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located in the Tsitsikamma National Park.- See also :* Tsitsikamma National Park* Paul Sauer Bridge* List of rivers of South Africa...
. In 1874 he became Conservator of a newly created conservancy including the forests of George
George, Western Cape
George is a city with 203,253 inhabitants in South Africa's Western Cape province. The city is a popular holiday and conference centre and the administrative and commercial hub of the Garden Route.- Location :...
, Knysna
Knysna
Knysna is a town with 76,431 inhabitants in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and is part of the Garden Route. It lies 34 degrees south of the equator, and is 72 kilometres east from the town of George on the N2 highway, and 25 kilometres west of Plettenberg Bay on the same road.-History:A...
and Humansdorp
Humansdorp
Humansdorp is a small town and surrounding district in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with a population of around 35,000 . It is part of the Kouga Local Municipality of the Cacadu District. The town is the centre of the district's light industry and farming...
. In 1888 he transferred to Tokai
Tokai, Cape Town
Tokai, a large residential suburb of Cape Town, South Africa, is situated on the foothills of the Constantiaberg, and is bordered by, Steenberg and Kirstenhof to the South, Bergvliet to the East, Constantia to the North and the SAFCOL pine tree plantations against the mountain to the...
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...
as Conservator over the Western Conservancy.
Thomas Bain
Thomas Charles John Bain
Thomas Charles John Bain was a South African road engineer, the son of Andrew Geddes Bain, also a road engineer in South Africa.-Biography:...
and Christopher Harison first explored the feasibility of the Grootrivier Pass near Nature's Valley
Nature's Valley
Nature's Valley is a holiday resort and small village on the Garden Route along the southern Cape coast of South Africa, tucked between the Soutrivier, the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains, the Indian Ocean and the Groot River lagoon...
in 1868. Harison's interest in the building of the road stemmed from his belief that it could be used to halt the runaway destruction of the forest started by Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
woodcutters in 1777 and carried on by their descendants. During his career as Conservator he was tireless in his efforts to preserve the forests and wildlife for posterity. A giant yellowwood in the Tsitsikamma Forest is named in his honour. He retired to Knysna in 1895.
His son, Launcelot Malcolm Harison, attended St Andrew's College in Grahamstown
Grahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
from 1869 to 1874. He was finally attached to Lord Methuen
Paul Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen
Field Marshal Paul Sanford Methuen, 3rd Baron Methuen GCB, GCMG, GCVO was a British military commander.-Early life:...
's staff and became president of the Military Court.
His daughter, Eliza 'Bessie' Georgiana Harison, married Charles Wilhelm Thesen
Charles Wilhelm Thesen
Charles Wilhelm Thesen , was a Norwegian-born shipowner and timber merchant who played a leading role in Knysna's public affairs....
(1856–1940) of Knysna and produced ten children. She died in 1901 of complications during pregnancy at the age of thirty-eight.