William Lutley Sclater
Encyclopedia
William Lutley Sclater was a British
zoologist and museum director. He was the son of Philip Lutley Sclater, and was named after his paternal grandfather, also William Lutley Sclater.
Sclater received his Master of Arts degree in Natural Science
from Keble College at Oxford
in 1885. He worked as the deputy superintendent of the Indian Museum in Calcutta from 1887 until 1891, when he joined the science faculty of Eton College
.
It was at Eton that he met his future wife, Charlotte Mellen Stephenson, an American divorcée whose two sons attended the school. The couple were married in London
in 1896, shortly after which they moved to Cape Town
, South Africa
. Here, Sclater took up the position of curator
at the South African Museum, whose collections he reorganised and moved into a new facility. During his time in South Africa, he continued his scientific writings, including completion of the work Flora and Fauna of South Africa. He also completed the four-volume series The Birds of South Africa, begun by Dr Arthur Stark
; the five-volume Birds of Africa, begun by Captain George Shelley
; and The Birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Protectorate, begun by Sir Frederick John Jackson.
In 1906, following a dispute with the Museum's board of trustees, Sclater resigned as curator. He traveled with his wife throughout Africa before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado
, which had been founded by Charlotte's brother-in-law, General William Jackson Palmer
. Palmer offered Sclater a small estate outside the city and a professorship at Colorado College
. When the general died in 1909, the couple returned to England, where Sclater became curator of the Bird Room at the Natural History Museum
. He worked there until his death in 1944.
In 1912, Sclater published A History of the Birds of Colorado in two volumes. During the Great War, he volunteered for the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association. Both his stepsons were killed in action during the war. Sclater was editor of Ibis
from 1913 to 1930, editor of the Zoological Record from 1921 to 1937, president of the British Ornithologists' Union
from 1928 to 1933, and secretary of the Royal Geographical Society
from 1931 to 1943. In 1919 and 1920, he and his wife traveled around the globe.
In 1942, Charlotte died of injuries sustained during the bombing of London. Two years later, William Sclater was killed by a V-1 flying bomb
in London
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
zoologist and museum director. He was the son of Philip Lutley Sclater, and was named after his paternal grandfather, also William Lutley Sclater.
Sclater received his Master of Arts degree in Natural Science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
from Keble College at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1885. He worked as the deputy superintendent of the Indian Museum in Calcutta from 1887 until 1891, when he joined the science faculty of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
.
It was at Eton that he met his future wife, Charlotte Mellen Stephenson, an American divorcée whose two sons attended the school. The couple were married in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1896, shortly after which they moved to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Here, Sclater took up the position of curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
at the South African Museum, whose collections he reorganised and moved into a new facility. During his time in South Africa, he continued his scientific writings, including completion of the work Flora and Fauna of South Africa. He also completed the four-volume series The Birds of South Africa, begun by Dr Arthur Stark
Arthur Stark
Arthur Cowell Stark was a medical doctor and naturalist. He emigrated from Torquay, England to Cape Town, South Africa in 1892. He lived in South Africa during the last 7 years of his life and died during the Siege of Ladysmith at the age of 53...
; the five-volume Birds of Africa, begun by Captain George Shelley
George Ernest Shelley
Captain George Ernest Shelley was an English geologist and ornithologist. He was a nephew of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley....
; and The Birds of Kenya Colony and the Uganda Protectorate, begun by Sir Frederick John Jackson.
In 1906, following a dispute with the Museum's board of trustees, Sclater resigned as curator. He traveled with his wife throughout Africa before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, which had been founded by Charlotte's brother-in-law, General William Jackson Palmer
William Jackson Palmer
William Jackson Palmer was an American civil engineer, soldier, industrialist, and philanthropist.-Overview:...
. Palmer offered Sclater a small estate outside the city and a professorship at Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
. When the general died in 1909, the couple returned to England, where Sclater became curator of the Bird Room at the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
. He worked there until his death in 1944.
In 1912, Sclater published A History of the Birds of Colorado in two volumes. During the Great War, he volunteered for the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association. Both his stepsons were killed in action during the war. Sclater was editor of Ibis
Ibis (journal)
Ibis, subtitled the International Journal of Avian Science, is the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the British Ornithologists' Union. Topics covered include ecology, conservation, behaviour, palaeontology, and taxonomy of birds. The editor-in-chief is Paul F. Donald. The journal is published by...
from 1913 to 1930, editor of the Zoological Record from 1921 to 1937, president of the British Ornithologists' Union
British Ornithologists' Union
The British Ornithologists' Union aims to encourage the study of birds in Britain, Europe and elsewhere, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation....
from 1928 to 1933, and secretary 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...
from 1931 to 1943. In 1919 and 1920, he and his wife traveled around the globe.
In 1942, Charlotte died of injuries sustained during the bombing of London. Two years later, William Sclater was killed by a V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
External links
- Chrono-Biographical Sketch: William Lutley Sclater at www.wku.edu
- Iziko south african museum: William Lutley Sclater at www.iziko.org.za