John Wood (explorer)
Encyclopedia
John Wood was a Scottish
naval officer
, surveyor
, cartographer
and explorer, principally remembered for his exploration of central Asia
.
Wood was born in Perth, Scotland
. After schooling at Perth Academy, he joined the British Indian Navy
and soon demonstrated a flair for surveying
. Many of the maps of southern Asia which he compiled remained standard for the rest of the nineteenth century.
In 1835, aged twenty-two, he commanded the first steamboat
to paddle up the Indus River
and surveyed the river as he went. Four years later, he led an expedition up the Pamir River
to Lake Zorkul
("Wood's Lake"), which he took to be the source of River Oxus
. He was the first European in the Pamir Mountains
since Bento de Goes
, and it was Wood who introduced the term "Roof of the World" for the Pamirs, when in 1838 he wrote "Bam-i-Duniah or Roof of the World
", a "native expression" (presumably Wakhi language
). The Royal Geographical Society
recognised his work by awarding the 29-year-old “Lieutenant John Woods” its Patron's Medal
in 1841 “for his journey to the source of the Oxus and for valuable labours on the Indus”.
After his central Asian explorations, Wood retired from the Navy of the East India Company still in his late twenties. Driven by his spirit of adventure he spent a year in the area of Wellington
, New Zealand
, where he purchased some land, but probably only as an investment. He ventured to the Hutt Valley and up to the Kapiti Coast, yet, curiously for a man who had built a reputation as an explorer, Wood never travelled north of the Wellington region nor visited the South Island, but spent most of his time in the Wellington township. On returning to England he wrote and, in 1843, had his Twelve Months in Wellington published, at first glance a guide for prospective settlers, but from the first few paragraphs onwards a damning critique of the New Zealand Company and a warning of prospective emigrants of the difficulties and hardships they would encounter. Then Wood moved back to India and established himself in Sindh
, a northern Indian province that is now part of Pakistan
. In 1871, he decided to return to Britain
, but before leaving made one final trip to Simla
in the Punjab
, where he fell ill. He nonetheless embarked on the voyage home, but died only two weeks after his arrival, on November 14.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
naval officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, cartographer
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...
and explorer, principally remembered for his exploration of central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
.
Wood was born in Perth, Scotland
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. After schooling at Perth Academy, he joined the British Indian Navy
History of the Indian Navy
-Early history:India has a rich maritime history dating back 5,000 years. The world's first tidal dock is believed to have been built at Lothal around 2300 BCE during the Indus Valley Civilization, near the present day Mangrol harbour on the Gujarat coast....
and soon demonstrated a flair for surveying
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
. Many of the maps of southern Asia which he compiled remained standard for the rest of the nineteenth century.
In 1835, aged twenty-two, he commanded the first steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
to paddle up the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
and surveyed the river as he went. Four years later, he led an expedition up the Pamir River
Pamir River
The Pamir is a river in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It is a tributary of the Panj River, and forms the northern boundary of Wakhan.The river has its sources in the Pamir Mountains in Gorno-Badakhshan province in the far eastern part of Tajikistan. It flows between the Wakhan Range and the Southern...
to Lake Zorkul
Zorkul
Zorkul is a lake in the Pamir Mountains that runs along the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It extends east to west for about 25 km. The Afghan-Tajik border runs along the lake from east to west, turning south towards Concord Peak , about 15 km south of the lake. The lake's northern...
("Wood's Lake"), which he took to be the source of River Oxus
Amu Darya
The Amu Darya , also called Oxus and Amu River, is a major river in Central Asia. It is formed by the junction of the Vakhsh and Panj rivers...
. He was the first European in the Pamir Mountains
Pamir Mountains
The Pamir Mountains are a mountain range in Central Asia formed by the junction or knot of the Himalayas, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush ranges. They are among the world’s highest mountains and since Victorian times they have been known as the "Roof of the World" a probable...
since Bento de Goes
Bento de Goes
Bento de Góis , was a Portuguese Jesuit Brother, Missionary and explorer...
, and it was Wood who introduced the term "Roof of the World" for the Pamirs, when in 1838 he wrote "Bam-i-Duniah or Roof of the World
Roof of the World
Roof of the World is a metaphoric description of the highest region in the world, also known as "High Asia", or the Trans-Himalaya, the mountainous interior of Asia.The term is also used for parts of this region, for* the Pamirs,* Tibet* the Himalayas...
", a "native expression" (presumably Wakhi language
Wakhi language
Wakhi is an Indo-European language in the branch of Eastern Iranian language family and is intimately related to other Southeastern Iranian languages in the Pamir languages group.-Classification and Distribution:...
). 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...
recognised his work by awarding the 29-year-old “Lieutenant John Woods” its Patron's Medal
Gold Medal (RGS)
The Gold Medal are the most prestigious of the awards presented by the Royal Geographical Society. The Gold Medal is not one award but consists of two separate awards; the Founder's Medal 1830 and the Patron's Medal 1838. The award is given for "the encouragement and promotion of geographical...
in 1841 “for his journey to the source of the Oxus and for valuable labours on the Indus”.
After his central Asian explorations, Wood retired from the Navy of the East India Company still in his late twenties. Driven by his spirit of adventure he spent a year in the area of Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where he purchased some land, but probably only as an investment. He ventured to the Hutt Valley and up to the Kapiti Coast, yet, curiously for a man who had built a reputation as an explorer, Wood never travelled north of the Wellington region nor visited the South Island, but spent most of his time in the Wellington township. On returning to England he wrote and, in 1843, had his Twelve Months in Wellington published, at first glance a guide for prospective settlers, but from the first few paragraphs onwards a damning critique of the New Zealand Company and a warning of prospective emigrants of the difficulties and hardships they would encounter. Then Wood moved back to India and established himself in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, a northern Indian province that is now part of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. In 1871, he decided to return to Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, but before leaving made one final trip to Simla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
in the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, where he fell ill. He nonetheless embarked on the voyage home, but died only two weeks after his arrival, on November 14.