sowerbii / sowerbyi (1 Viewer)

[Taphrospilus]

Just a guess about todays HBW Alive entry

John Lawrence Sowerby (?1875-1957) British collector, member of British South Africa Police, served during second Matabele war 1896-1897, Southern Rhodesia (= Zimbabwe) (Stactolaema).

If he is the same as in Winchester Commoners. 1836-1890 p. 227...

Sowerby, John Lawrence (D), born 18th March, 1873, son of J. G. Sowerby, Esq., Gateshead-upon-Tyne In Messrs.Sowerby's Glass Works, Gateshead-upon-Tyne

...he might have even died 19th June 1968 Victoria British Columbia Canada. See here

But I have no evidence that they are the same persons nor do I have a clue where the death date 1957 derived from. OD here which might arise other question if he was not already dead at time of description.

...made in Mashona-land by Mr. J, Lawrence Sowerby, late of the B. S. A. Co. Police.

Or is my interpretation of late wrong (as I am no native speaker)? But there seems to be a book from him Through the Mashonaland War with the B.S.A.P. (1901) published in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne here and On a Collection of Birds from Fort Chiquaqua, Mashonaland. With Notes by R. B. Sharpe. See also here. As well there seems to be a relationship to Githa Sowerby (1876-1970)

 

[Taphrospilus]

The Eponym Dictionary of Birds claims:

Sowerby's Barbet Stactolaema whytii sowerbyi Sharpe, 1898 [Alt. Whyte's Barbet ssp.]
John Lawrence Sowerby (c.1875–1957) was in charge of a detachment of the British South African Mounted Police as well as being a natural history collector. He collected this race of barbet near Fort Chiquaqua along along with 65 other birds (1897), while he was serving during the Matabele Rebellion (1896) in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). All were shot with his issued rifle – Sharpe said of this 'It is not given to every young ornithologist to shoot a Hoopoe with a bullet, and then make a good skin of it'. He and Sharpe wrote an article about the collection (1898). He wrote Through the Mashonaland War with the BSAP (1901).

Still the question pending if born 1873 and died 1968 and what the late means in context with OD.

 

[PScofield]

"Late" here means "formerly of the ..."
He actually wasn't in South Africa for very long.

John Lawrence Sowerby

Birth	18 Mar 1873 Jesmond, Northumberland, England
Death	19 Jun 1968 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Father	John George Sowerby (1849-1914)
Mother	Amy Margaret Hewison (1850-1931)
Spouse	Lucy Elizabeth Clarke (Born 1878