William Vincent Legge
Encyclopedia
Colonel William Vincent Legge (2 September 1841 – 25 March 1918) was an Australia
n ornithologist
.
, Tasmania
(then Van Diemen's Land
). He was educated mainly in Britain, also in France and Germany, and became a proficient linguist. He was also educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. In 1862 he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery
, serving first in Bath, England
, and then in Melbourne
for several years. From Melbourne his battery was transferred to Colombo
, Ceylon, where he was stationed 1869-1877. He then took a staff appointment at Aberystwith, Cardiganshire
, for five years. Subsequently he moved back to Tasmania and served for eleven years as Commandant of the Tasmanian Defence Forces, retiring as Lieutenant-Colonel when he reached the age-limit. He trained Tasmanian forces for the Second Boer War
. He died at Cullenswood on 25 March 1918 at the age of 76, survived by his wife and two sons from his first marriage.
. His experiences in Ceylon led to his authorship of History of the Birds of Ceylon, comprising two quarto-sized volumes, with coloured plates by Keulemans
, published in three parts between 1878 and 1880 in London
. The work consisted of over 1200 pages with 34 plates in colour; some woodcuts became the standard book on the subject due to their high quality. Part of his collection of Ceylonese birds were presented by him to the Natural History Museum
at South Kensington, and the remainder was given to the museum at Hobart.
Legge was elected the founding President of the RAOU
in 1901 and served various offices within it, notably on the Check-list Committee, until his death. He was also a Colonial Member of the British Ornithologists' Union
, an Honorary Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union
, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
and a member of the Zoological Society of London
, the Linnean Society. He was also a founder and president of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
and vice-president of the Royal Society of Tasmania
. The highest point in the Ben Lomond Range
is named Legges Tor
in his honour.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
.
Biography
Legge was born at CullenswoodCullenswood, Tasmania
Cullenswood, a historic property in the Fingal Valley in North East Tasmania, near St Marys.The historic home of the Legge family, past residents have included Colonel William Vincent Legge, who was born at the property on 2 September 1841 and died there on 25 March 1918.The sheep grazing property...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
(then Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
). He was educated mainly in Britain, also in France and Germany, and became a proficient linguist. He was also educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. In 1862 he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, serving first in Bath, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and then in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
for several years. From Melbourne his battery was transferred to Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, Ceylon, where he was stationed 1869-1877. He then took a staff appointment at Aberystwith, Cardiganshire
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
, for five years. Subsequently he moved back to Tasmania and served for eleven years as Commandant of the Tasmanian Defence Forces, retiring as Lieutenant-Colonel when he reached the age-limit. He trained Tasmanian forces for the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He died at Cullenswood on 25 March 1918 at the age of 76, survived by his wife and two sons from his first marriage.
Scientific career
Colonel Legge had a strong interest in ornithologyOrnithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
. His experiences in Ceylon led to his authorship of History of the Birds of Ceylon, comprising two quarto-sized volumes, with coloured plates by Keulemans
John Gerrard Keulemans
Johannes Gerardus Keulemans was a Dutch bird illustrator.-Biography and Work:...
, published in three parts between 1878 and 1880 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...
. The work consisted of over 1200 pages with 34 plates in colour; some woodcuts became the standard book on the subject due to their high quality. Part of his collection of Ceylonese birds were presented by him to 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...
at South Kensington, and the remainder was given to the museum at Hobart.
Legge was elected the founding President of the RAOU
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, also known as Birds Australia, was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia and adjacent regions. This makes it Australia's oldest national birding association. It is also Australia's largest...
in 1901 and served various offices within it, notably on the Check-list Committee, until his death. He was also a Colonial Member 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....
, an Honorary Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
, a fellow 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...
and a member of the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
, the Linnean Society. He was also a founder and president of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, also known as Birds Australia, was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia and adjacent regions. This makes it Australia's oldest national birding association. It is also Australia's largest...
and vice-president of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Royal Society of Tasmania
The Royal Society of Tasmania was formed in 1844.The RST was the first Royal Society outside the United Kingdom. It started as the "Tasmanian Society" formed by Sir John Franklin assisted by Ronald Campbell Gunn....
. The highest point in the Ben Lomond Range
Ben Lomond (Tasmania)
Ben Lomond, 1,570 m AHD , is a mountain in the north of Tasmania. It is east of Launceston in the Ben Lomond National Park...
is named Legges Tor
Legges Tor
Legges Tor is a mountain in the Ben Lomond National Park in Tasmania, Australia. It is the second highest mountain in Tasmania. It is a major feature of the national park, and is a popular venue with bushwalkers and mountain climbers....
in his honour.