Who was James Hector?
Hector entered Edinburgh
University as a medical student in 1852, medicine being the
only avenue for scientific study then. He also attended
lectures in geology, botany and zoology. In 1856 he
graduated MD (Doctor of Medicine) with a thesis on the
Antiquity of Man. His abilities were recognised at an early
stage, and in 1857 he was appointed surgeon and geologist on
a Government expedition for the exploration of western
Canada. It started in Detroit in June 1857, and ended at
Vancouver Island in January 1860.
Hector made an outstanding
contribution to the success of the expedition. Working in
rugged conditions, he established himself as a field
geologist, natural historian and explorer. One of the
accounts of the expedition notes that "Young and eager, the
tough little Scot proved a heroic traveller who left a
legendary reputation behind in western North
America".
He did not limit himself
to Canadian geology. He made observations on mammals,
reptiles, insects and birds, and reported on the customs of
the Indians and their language.
Hector left his mark on
many geographic features. He is particularly remembered for
the discovery of Kicking Horse Pass, high in the Rockies. As
the name implies, he was injured by a horse, and assumed to
be dead. His companions were about to bury him when he
regained consciousness and winked at them.
Based on his success with
the expedition, Hector was appointed Geologist to the
Province of Otago, New Zealand soon after the discovery of
gold. From his arrival in April 1962, he carried out pioneer
exploration and geological reconnaissance Otago, including
the inaccessible mountainous area in the west.
Hector believed that
reconnaissance surveys should include all facets of science,
and he assembled a small group of staff, who stayed with him
for many years: William Skey to analyse rocks and minerals,
John Buchanan as draftsman and botanical artist, and Richard
Gore as clerk and meteorological observer.
His work in Otago brought
Hector to the attention of the New Zealand Government, then
considering the establishment of a colonial Geological
Survey to establish the mineral resources of the country.
Hector proposed that it should include a scientific museum
and analytical laboratory. His ideas were largely accepted,
and in 1865 he was appointed Director of the New Zealand
Geological Survey and Colonial Museum. Skey, Buchanan and
Gore accompanied him to Wellington.
The work of the Geological
Survey followed a regular pattern. In the summer months,
Hector worked strenuously in the field with assistants. For
the rest of the year he was based in the Colonial Museum
(close to the site of the present Parliament Buildings)
writing reports, classifying specimens and arranging
displays.
As the only scientist
working for the Government, Hector became the official
adviser on all matters of science and higher education. In
addition to his designated duties, he became Chancellor of
the University of New Zealand, and at different times was
responsible for the Meteorological Department, the Colonial
Observatory, the Wellington Time Ball Station and Botanical
Gardens, the Patent Library, and for custody of the official
Weights and Measures.
One of Hector's most
enduring contributions was the development of the New
Zealand Institute (now the Royal Society of New Zealand) as
an independent scientific organisation. From its inception
in 1867, Hector was its Manager and Editor for the next 36
years.
Hector published 45
scientific papers in the Transactions of the New Zealand
Institute on geology, botany and zoology, and produced
catalogues of material in the Colonial Museum and Library.
He prepared a Handbook of New Zealand in 1879 (revised 1882,
1883, and 1886) which is the forerunner of the New Zealand
Yearbook. In 1886 he published his "Outline of New Zealand
Geology", a summary of the first 20 years of work of the New
Zealand Geological Survey.
Hector also oversaw the
production of a series of catalogues, manuals and handbooks
by the Colonial Museum. Between 1871-81 these covered birds,
fishes, echinoderms, mollusca, crustacea, beetles, flies,
wasps, grasses and flax. These were pioneer works, in some
cases not replaced by more authoritative works for many
years.
Hector was predominant in
the New Zealand science scene for over 20 years, and
received many honours. He was knighted in 1887. Inevitably
he had disagreements with other scientists and politicians,
to some of whom he appeared autocratic and conservative.
From the late 1880s his position at the centre of an
official scientific empire began to wane, and several
organisations were removed from his control. From 1892
Hector was only Director of the Colonial Museum and Manager
of the New Zealand Institute, with a greatly reduced staff
and budget. He retired from Government service in poor
health aged 69 in 1903.
After retirement, Hector
returned to Canada as a guest of the Canadian Pacific
Railway. Official recognition of his part in the Expedition
40 years earlier was marred by the sudden death of his son
Douglas who had accompanied him. He returned to New Zealand
alone, and died on 6 November 1907.
Although Hector's death
was marked by obituaries in may overseas scientific
publications, he received little recognition in New Zealand.
To its shame, the New Zealand Institute took 16 years to
publish an obituary (and even this appears to have been at
the request of the Hector family). Almost 100 years after
his death, Hector is now remembered with more respect for
the enormous contribution he made to setting New Zealand
science on a solid foundation.
Simon
Nathan
(with acknowledgement to
R.K. Dell and Alan Mason)
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