Herbert Fordham
Encyclopedia
Sir Herbert George Fordham (9 May 1854 – 1929), was a writer on cartography
whose Carto-Bibliography method of cataloging maps was widely adopted. He was the benefactor of the Fordham collection housed by the Royal Geographical Society
- one of the most important map collection
s in the country.
Fordham was born in Odsey
and attended University College, London where he became a member of the Geological Society. After college he joined the family brewing business but left and in 1885 was called to the bar by the Inner Temple
.
Between 1874 and 1892 he published several papers on the geology, natural history, and botany of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. In 1887 he published Rural Municipalities and the Reform of Local Government.
In 1891, on the death of his father, Fordham returned to the family business. From 1904 he served in local government, chairing Cambridgeshire county council
and receiving a knighthood in 1908. In 1918 he contested the West Fulham
election as the Liberal candidate. He lost partly due to his opposition to conscription. From 1920 he was deputy lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
. He actively opposed the creation of the county borough of Cambridge.
From 1900 he began to collect old maps and road books, initially from England and later from abroad. Using both his own and the collections of others, he began publishing and printing on maps including Studies in Carto-Bibliography in 1914. In 1929 he was awarded the gold medal of the Brussels Geographical Society recognising him as one of Europe's foremost authorities on cartography.
Fordham donated some rare maps and atlases to both the British Museum
and to Cambridge University Library
and he bequeathed 1300 volumes, including rare road books and itineraries, to the Royal Geographical Society
.
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
whose Carto-Bibliography method of cataloging maps was widely adopted. He was the benefactor of the Fordham collection housed by the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
- one of the most important map collection
Map collection
A map collection is a storage facility for maps, usually in a library, archive, or museum, or at a map publisher or public authority, and the maps and other cartographic items stored within that facility....
s in the country.
Fordham was born in Odsey
Odsey
Odsey is a hamlet in Cambridgeshire close to the border with Hertfordshire near the town of Baldock. It contains a hotel and has a main line railway station with direct train links to Cambridge and London. It is situated in the parish of Steeple Morden....
and attended University College, London where he became a member of the Geological Society. After college he joined the family brewing business but left and in 1885 was called to the bar by the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
Between 1874 and 1892 he published several papers on the geology, natural history, and botany of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. In 1887 he published Rural Municipalities and the Reform of Local Government.
In 1891, on the death of his father, Fordham returned to the family business. From 1904 he served in local government, chairing Cambridgeshire county council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council is the county council of Cambridgeshire, England. The council currently consists of 69 councillors, representing 60 electoral divisions. The Conservative Party has a majority on the council, having gained control in the 1997 local elections...
and receiving a knighthood in 1908. In 1918 he contested the West Fulham
Fulham West (UK Parliament constituency)
Fulham West was a borough constituency based around the London district of Fulham. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1955....
election as the Liberal candidate. He lost partly due to his opposition to conscription. From 1920 he was deputy lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representative in the counties of the United Kingdom. The Lord Lieutenant is supported by a Vice Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants which he or...
. He actively opposed the creation of the county borough of Cambridge.
From 1900 he began to collect old maps and road books, initially from England and later from abroad. Using both his own and the collections of others, he began publishing and printing on maps including Studies in Carto-Bibliography in 1914. In 1929 he was awarded the gold medal of the Brussels Geographical Society recognising him as one of Europe's foremost authorities on cartography.
Fordham donated some rare maps and atlases to both the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
and to Cambridge University Library
Cambridge University Library
The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of Cambridge University in England. It comprises five separate libraries:* the University Library main building * the Medical Library...
and he bequeathed 1300 volumes, including rare road books and itineraries, to the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
.