R E Cheesman
Encyclopedia
Major Robert Ernest Cheesman, CBE
(1878 – February 13, 1962) was a military officer, explorer and ornithologist.
Cheesman was Private Secretary to Sir Percy Sykes
during his tenure as High Commissioner
in Iraq
.
In 1923, during a journey into the Arabian Peninsula
, Cheesman collected over 300 specimens from the Hasa
oasis, several of them previously unknown to science. These specimens are currently in the British Museum
.
He is credited with discovering Cheesman's Gerbil
(Gerbillus cheesmani).
Cheesman was the first man to map the Arabian coast from the Gulf of Salwa
to Uqair
. In 1924 he fixed the position of Hofuf
and identified the site of ancient Gerrha
. He presented his findings to Ibn Sa'ud at his court in Hofuf. He was later given the Gill Memorial Award for this work by the Royal Geographical Society
.
in Shiraz, Persia', Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 573-581.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(1878 – February 13, 1962) was a military officer, explorer and ornithologist.
Cheesman was Private Secretary to Sir Percy Sykes
Percy Sykes
Brigadier-General Sir Percy Molesworth Sykes KCIE, CB, CMG was a soldier, diplomat and scholar, with a considerable literary output. He wrote historical, geographical, and biographical works, as well as describing his travels in Persia. Sykes was born in Brompton, Kent, England the only son of Rev...
during his tenure as High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
In 1923, during a journey into the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
, Cheesman collected over 300 specimens from the Hasa
Hasa
Hasa is a Korean military rank which is used in both the armed forces of North and South Korea. In both countries, the rank is considered the first non-commissioned officer grade and is generally considered the equivalent of a Corporal or Sergeant in western militaries....
oasis, several of them previously unknown to science. These specimens are currently in 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...
.
He is credited with discovering Cheesman's Gerbil
Cheesman's Gerbil
Cheesman's gerbil, Gerbilus cheesmani, is distributed mainly in Arabian Peninsula to southwestern Iran. The total length of this gerbil is about 22 cm.Cheesman's gerbil appears similar to the Palid gerbil ....
(Gerbillus cheesmani).
Cheesman was the first man to map the Arabian coast from the Gulf of Salwa
Salwa
Salwa is a suburb of the, Hawalli Governorate in Kuwait, bordering Rumaithiya to the north and Messila to the south. To the east , it overlooks the Persian Gulf...
to Uqair
Uqair
Uqair is an ancient fort of Islamic origin, located in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. It is alternatively spelled Al-'Uqair, Uqayr, and Ogair, all Latin transliterations of the same Arabic word. It has been linked by some to the ancient city of Gerrha mentioned in Greek and Roman sources...
. In 1924 he fixed the position of Hofuf
Hofuf
Al-Hofuf is the major urban center in the Al-Ahsa Oasis in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.- Overview :...
and identified the site of ancient Gerrha
Gerrha
Gerrha , was an ancient city of Arabia, on the west side of the Persian Gulf. More accurately, the ancient city of Gerrha has been determined to have existed near or under the present fort of Uqair. This fort is 50 miles northeast of Al-Hasa in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia...
. He presented his findings to Ibn Sa'ud at his court in Hofuf. He was later given the Gill Memorial Award for this work 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...
.
Publications
'Report on a collection of mammals made by Col. J.E.B. HotsonJohn Ernest Buttery Hotson
Sir John Ernest Buttery Hotson, KCSI, OBE, VD was an administrator in India during the British Raj. Born in Glasgow to Hamilton and Margaret Hotson, he was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating BA in 1899, and MA...
in Shiraz, Persia', Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 573-581.