Richard Hawksworth Barnes
Richard Hawksworth Barnes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1831  Colombo |
| Died | 27 February 1904 (aged 72–73) Parkstone |
| Resting place | St Peter's Church |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Zoological collector, meteorologist, coffee grower |
| Spouse(s) | Cecilia Freckleton |
| Parent(s) | |
| Awards |
|
Richard Hawksworth Barnes FLS (1831–1904) was a British meteorologist and naturalist, who spent time working as a coffee grower in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where he collected specimens for the British Museum.
The snake species Boiga barnesii is named in his honour.
Early life
[edit]Barnes was born in 1831 in Colombo, Ceylon, the youngest son of Maria, née Fawkes, daughter of Walter Fawkes,[a] and her husband, the then Governor of Ceylon, Edward Barnes.[1][2] He spent many of his early years at the Fawkes' family seat, Farnley Hall, near Otley, Yorkshire.[1] He was subsequently educated at Eton College and studied mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge, taking the Mathematical Tripos and becoming 38th Wrangler (i.e. obtaining first class honours) in 1853.[1][3][4]
Career
[edit]In 1852, Barnes obtained a position as a "coffee planter" in Ceylon,[1] where West-Indian style coffee cultivation had been introduced by his father in 1824. While there, he carried out the study of meteorology, botany and herpetology.[1]
He was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London in April 1863.[5]
In 1865 be was able to warn the Madras observatory by telegram that a severe cyclone would reach their coasts in three days, by which means all vessels there were enabled to reach safe waters, and many lives were saved.
He collected specimens for the British Museum (these are now in the Natural History Museum, London).[2][8]
Among the specimens he collected were the types of two species of snake, Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus (originally Dendrophis caudolineolata) and Boiga barnesii (also known as Barnes' cat snake). They were described, and the latter named (as Dipsas barnesii) in Barnes' honour, by Albert Günther in 1869.[7]
Personal life and death
[edit]On 29 November 1866 Barnes married Cecilia Freckleton (née Waring), a widow, becoming step-father to her daughter Alice Marie Freckleton.[9] At that time his address was given as "Gannoruwa estate, Peradeniya".[9] He returned to England in 1867[1] when his address was given as "40 Kensington Park Gardens, London W.".[8] He later lived at Parkstone, Dorset, from where he contributed regular meteorological readings to his local newspaper, the Parkstone Reminder.[3]
Barnes died at his home, Heatherland House, in Parkstone, on 27 February 1904, aged 73. Obituaries were published in The Times,[6] Tropical Agriculturist,[1] the Parkstone Reminder,[3] and a number of other regional newspapers. He was buried at St Petert Peter's Church, the parish church of Parkstone.[3] He was survived by Cecilia.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Walter Fawkes surname at birth was Hawksworth
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Death of an Old Ceylon Coffee Planter". Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society. 23: 688. 1 April 1904. Wikidata Q124330297.
- ^ a b Bo Beolens; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (26 July 2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. p. 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. OL 25085245M. Wikidata Q98603446.
- ^ a b c d Arthur Davidson (May 1904). "The Late Mr. R. H. Barnes". Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society. 23: 160. Wikidata Q124330299.
- ^ "BNS847RH". A Cambridge Alumni Database. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Special Meeting". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London: vii. 1863.
- ^ a b "Obituary". The Times. No. 37333. 4 March 1904.
- ^ a b Albert Günther (21 August 2009). "Report on two Collections of Indian Reptiles". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 37 (1): 500–507. doi:10.1111/J.1469-7998.1869.TB07359.X. ISSN 0370-2774. Wikidata Q99641048.
- ^ a b Natural History Museum register
- ^ a b Lewis, J. Penry (1913). List of inscriptions on tombstones and monuments in Ceylon, of historical or local interest, with an obituary of persons uncommemorated. Colombo: H. C. Cottle. p. 318.