George Edward Dobson
Encyclopedia
George Edward Dobson FRS
(September 4, 1848 at Edgeworthstown, County Longford
, Ireland
- November 26, 1895) was a zoologist, photographer and army surgeon
.
and then at Trinity College, Dublin
. He gained the degrees of Bachelor of Arts
in 1866, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Master of Surgery
in 1867 and Master of Arts
in 1875.
In 1872 he was posted to the Andaman Islands
, where he made a number of anthropological photographs of the Andamanese
.
He became an army surgeon after 1867 serving in India, a posting he kept until his retirement in 1888.
Around 1878, he became curator of the Royal Victoria Museum
at Netley
.
. He was a member of several scientific societies, the Royal Society
(elected 1883), the Linnean Society of London
and the Zoological Society of London
. He was a corresponding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences
of Philadelphia and of the Biological Society of Washington
.
In addition Dobson also contributed to the ninth edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica
where he wrote the accounts about the vampyre bats, the moles and the shrews.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(September 4, 1848 at Edgeworthstown, County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
- November 26, 1895) was a zoologist, photographer and army 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...
.
Biography
He was the eldest son of Parke Dobson and was educated at the Royal School EnniskillenEnniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
and then at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. He gained the degrees of Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1866, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Master of Surgery
Master of Surgery
The Master of Surgery is an advanced qualification in surgery. It is most commonly abbreviated Ch.M. or M.S., as well as M.Ch. and M.Chir. from its Latin name, Magister Chirurgiae or the English form of Master of Surgery....
in 1867 and Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1875.
In 1872 he was posted to the Andaman Islands
Andaman Islands
The Andaman Islands are a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands in the Bay of Bengal between India to the west, and Burma , to the north and east...
, where he made a number of anthropological photographs of the Andamanese
Andamanese
The Andamanese people are the various aboriginal inhabitants of the Andaman Islands, which is the northern district of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands union territory of India, located in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal. They include the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese, and...
.
He became an army surgeon after 1867 serving in India, a posting he kept until his retirement in 1888.
Around 1878, he became curator of the Royal Victoria Museum
Netley Hospital
The Royal Victoria Hospital, or Netley Hospital was a large military hospital in Netley, near Southampton, Hampshire, England. Construction started in 1856 at the suggestion of Queen Victoria but its design caused some controversy, chiefly from Florence Nightingale. Often visited by Queen Victoria,...
at Netley
Netley
Netley, sometimes called Netley Abbey, is a village on the south coast of Hampshire, England, situated on the east side of the city of Southampton...
.
Achievements
Dobson was an expert on small mammals, especially bats ( the Chiroptera) and InsectivoraInsectivora
The order Insectivora is a now-abandoned biological grouping within the class of mammals...
. He was a member of several scientific societies, the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(elected 1883), the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
and the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
. He was a corresponding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
of Philadelphia and of the Biological Society of Washington
Biological Society of Washington
The Biological Society of Washington is a world wide acting scientific organisation established on 3 December 1880 in Washington, D.C.. The original purpose was "to encourage the study of the Biological Sciences and to hold meetings at which papers shall be read and discussed." The current primary...
.
Works
- Catalogue of the Chiroptera in Collection of British Museum (1878)
- Monograph of the Asiatic Chiroptera (1876)
- A Monograph of the Insectivora, systematic and anatomical (three parts, John Van Voorst, Londres, 1882-1890.
In addition Dobson also contributed to the ninth edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
where he wrote the accounts about the vampyre bats, the moles and the shrews.