Edward Frederick Kelaart
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Frederick Kelaart (November 21, 1819 – August 31, 1860) was a Ceylonese-born physician
and naturalist
.
Kelaart was of Dutch and German heritage, and served in the Ceylon Medical Service. He was a staff assistant surgeon in Gibraltar
from 1843 to 1845, later transferred to Ceylon. He was an active member of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
. In 1852 he published Prodromus fauna Zeylanica, the first description of Ceylonese fauna.
He made large collections of reptiles at Nuwara Eliya
and sent them to Edward Blyth
.
The Black-throated Munia
(Lonchura kelaarti) is named after him.
Kelaart died on a voyage to England.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and naturalist
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...
.
Kelaart was of Dutch and German heritage, and served in the Ceylon Medical Service. He was a staff assistant surgeon in Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
from 1843 to 1845, later transferred to Ceylon. He was an active member of the Ceylon branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
. In 1852 he published Prodromus fauna Zeylanica, the first description of Ceylonese fauna.
He made large collections of reptiles at Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya , meaning "city on the plain " or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka...
and sent them to Edward Blyth
Edward Blyth
Edward Blyth was an English zoologist and pharmacist. He was one of the founders of zoology in India....
.
The Black-throated Munia
Black-throated Munia
The Black-throated Munia or Jerdon's Mannikin is a small passerine bird. This estrildid finch is a resident breeding bird in the hills of southwest India, the Eastern Ghats and Sri Lanka.-Subspecies:...
(Lonchura kelaarti) is named after him.
Kelaart died on a voyage to England.