Herbert John Fleure
Encyclopedia
Herbert John Fleure FRS (June 6, 1877 – July 1, 1969), was a zoologist and geographer. He was secretary of the Geographical Association
, editor of Geography, and President of the Cambrian Archaeological Association.
on 6 June 1877, the son of Jean Fleure and Marie Le Rougetel. He often astonished friends and relatives in the mid-twentieth century by recounting how his father had been taken to visit the battlefield of Waterloo shortly after the battle (his father was born in 1803 and died in 1889). In 1897, he attended the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
, where he founded the Student Representative Council. He graduated with first-class honours in 1901 and went on to study at the Zoological Institute in Zurich
, Switzerland.
, Manchester
. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1936. Following his retirement in 1944, he was President of the Royal Anthropological Institute from 1945 to 1947.
He was a founder member of the Guernsey Society, which was established in 1943 to represent the interests of the Nazi-occupied island
to the British Authorities. After the war, he was a regular contributor to The Quarterly Review, as well as to The Guernsey Farmhouse, a book published by the Society in 1964 celebrating the ancient family houses in the island. He also authored biographies of several scientists including Arthur Robert Hinks
, Alfred Cort Haddon
, James George Frazer and Emmanuel de Margerie
in 1930, and its Daly Medal in 1939. He received the Victoria Medal
of the Royal Geographical Society
in 1946.
Geographical Association
The Geographical Association is a Sheffield, United Kingdom-based subject association with the core charitable objective of furthering the study, learning and teaching of geography. It is a lively community of practice with over a century of innovation behind it and an unrivalled understanding of...
, editor of Geography, and President of the Cambrian Archaeological Association.
Early years
Fleure was born in GuernseyGuernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
on 6 June 1877, the son of Jean Fleure and Marie Le Rougetel. He often astonished friends and relatives in the mid-twentieth century by recounting how his father had been taken to visit the battlefield of Waterloo shortly after the battle (his father was born in 1803 and died in 1889). In 1897, he attended the University of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
, where he founded the Student Representative Council. He graduated with first-class honours in 1901 and went on to study at the Zoological Institute in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland.
Career
Returning to Wales, he became Head of the Department of Zoology at Aberystwyth in 1908. In 1917, he became Professor of Anthropology and Geography at the university, holding the post until 1930, when he became Professor of Geography at Victoria UniversityVictoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He was made a Fellow of 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"...
in 1936. Following his retirement in 1944, he was President of the Royal Anthropological Institute from 1945 to 1947.
He was a founder member of the Guernsey Society, which was established in 1943 to represent the interests of the Nazi-occupied island
Occupation of the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi Germany for much of World War II, from 30 June 1940 until the liberation on 9 May 1945. The Channel Islands are two British Crown dependencies and include the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey as well as the smaller islands of Alderney and Sark...
to the British Authorities. After the war, he was a regular contributor to The Quarterly Review, as well as to The Guernsey Farmhouse, a book published by the Society in 1964 celebrating the ancient family houses in the island. He also authored biographies of several scientists including Arthur Robert Hinks
Arthur Robert Hinks
Arthur Robert Hinks, CBE, FRS was a British astronomer and geographer..As an astronomer, he is best known for his work in determining the distance from the Sun to the Earth from 1900–1909: for this achievement, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society and was elected a...
, Alfred Cort Haddon
Alfred Cort Haddon
Alfred Cort Haddon, Sc.D., FRS, FRGS was an influential British anthropologist and ethnologist.Initially a biologist, who achieved his most notable fieldwork, with W.H.R. Rivers, C.G. Seligman, Sidney Ray, Anthony Wilkin on the Torres Strait Islands...
, James George Frazer and Emmanuel de Margerie
Emmanuel de Margerie
Emmanuel Marie Pierre Martin Jacquin de Margerie ForMemRS was a French geographer after whom the Margerie Glacier was named, which he visited in 1913. He was awarded the Cullum Geographical Medal of the American Geographical Society in 1919. In 1923 de Margerie was awarded the Mary Clark Thompson...
Honours
He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the American Geographical SocietyAmerican Geographical Society
The American Geographical Society is an organization of professional geographers, founded in 1851 in New York City. Most fellows of the society are Americans, but among them have always been a significant number of fellows from around the world...
in 1930, and its Daly Medal in 1939. He received the Victoria Medal
Victoria Medal (geography)
The Victoria Medal is an award presented by the Royal Geographical Society. It is awarded "for conspicuous merit in research in geography" and has been given since 1902.-Past recipients:...
of 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...
in 1946.
Works
- Human Geography in Western Europe (1918)
- The Peoples of Europe (1922)
- Races of England and Wales (1923)
- French Life and its Problems (1942)
- A Natural History of Man in Britain (1951)
- The Guernsey Farmhouse (1964)