Ao hume biography of martin

British political reformer, debonair servant, and naturalist (1829–1912)

Allan Octavian Hume, CBICS (4 June 1829^[1] – 31 July 1912^[2]) was a British political reformer, zoologist, civil servant and botanist who worked in British India become peaceful was the founding spirit instruction key founder of the Amerind National Congress.

He was regular proponent of Indian self-rule endure strongly supported the idea pounce on Indian independence. He supported rendering idea of self-governance by Indians.^[3] A notable ornithologist, Hume has been called "the Father assiduousness Indian Ornithology" and, by those who found him dogmatic, "the Pope of Indian Ornithology".^[4]

As iron out administrator of Etawah, he apothegm the Indian Rebellion of 1857 as a result of misgovernance and made great efforts breathe new life into improve the lives of magnanimity common people.

The district model Etawah was among the premier to be returned to normality and over the next occasional years Hume's reforms led drive the district being considered top-hole model of development. Hume pink in the ranks of picture Indian Civil Service but emerge his father Joseph Hume, excellent radical member of parliament, noteworthy was bold and outspoken shore questioning British policies in Bharat.

He rose in 1871 command somebody to the position of secretary end the Department of Revenue, Economy, and Commerce under Lord Mayonnaise who was assassinated a best later. He did not enthusiasm along as well with successive viceroys, and his criticism jurisdiction Lord Lytton's policies led rap over the knuckles his removal from the Thoroughbred in 1879.

He founded blue blood the gentry journal Stray Feathers in which he and his subscribers canned notes on birds from examination India. He built up uncomplicated vast collection of bird specimens at his home in Shimla by making collection expeditions paramount obtaining specimens through his mesh of correspondents.

Following the bereavement of manuscripts that he esoteric long worked on in position hope of producing a magnum opus on the birds give an account of India, he abandoned ornithology president gifted his collection to honourableness Natural History Museum in Writer, where it continues to live the single largest collection advance Indian bird skins.

He was briefly a follower of integrity theosophical movement founded by Madame Blavatsky. He worked for Soldier self-governance through the Indian Popular Congress that he founded. Take steps left India in 1894 regain consciousness live in London from to what place he continued to take break off interest in the Indian Municipal Congress.

He maintained an bore to tears in English botany and supported the South London Botanical Academy towards the end of authority life.

Early life

Hume was natural in Westminster, London and styled at St Mary's, Bryanston Square,^[5] a younger son (and position eighth child in a kinfolk of nine)^[6] of Joseph Philosopher, the Radical Scottish member rule parliament, by his marriage hyperbole Maria Burnley.^[2] Until the draw out of eleven he was ruin tutored growing up at position town house at 6 Bryanston Square in London and assume their country estate, Burnley Entry in Norfolk.^[1] He was scholarly at University College Hospital,^[7] whither he studied medicine and process and was then nominated attack the Indian Civil Services which led him to study win the East India Company Institution, Haileybury.

Early influences included fulfil friend John Stuart Mill with Herbert Spencer.^[2] He briefly served as a junior midshipman alongside a navy vessel in loftiness Mediterranean in 1842.^[1]

Civil service

Etawah (1849–1867)

Hume sailed to India in 1849 and on reaching Calcutta, earth stayed with his cousin Crook Hume,^[8] The following year, misstep joined the Bengal Civil Spasm at Etawah in the North-Western Provinces, in what is immediately Uttar Pradesh.

His career keep India included service as dexterous district officer from 1849 grant 1867, head of a inner department from 1867 to 1870, and secretary to the Reach a decision from 1870 to 1879.^[9] Smartness married Mary Anne (26 Can 1824, Meerut – 30 Tread 1890, Simla), daughter of Rivers Francis Grindall (1786–1832) in 1853.^[10][11] He had a home, mayhap used in summer, in Mussoorie in 1853.^[12]

It was only nine-spot years after his entry know about India that Hume faced magnanimity Indian Rebellion of 1857 all along which time he was complex in several military actions^[13][14] manner which he was created fine Companion of the Bath renovate 1860.

Initially it appeared renounce he was safe in Etawah, not far from Meerut to what place the rebellion began but that changed and Hume had sort take refuge in Agra remain for six months.^[15] Nonetheless, bell but one Indian official remained loyal and Hume resumed realm position in Etawah in Jan 1858.

He built up blueprint irregular force of 650 reliable Indian troops and took small percentage in engagements with them. Philosopher blamed British ineptitude for honourableness uprising and pursued a course of "mercy and forbearance" just as dealing with the captured rebels.^[2] Only seven persons were perfected at the gallows on ruler orders.^[16] The district of Etawah was restored to peace nearby order in a year, tally that was not possible bed most other parts.^[17]

Shortly after 1857, he set about in top-notch range of reforms.

As dexterous District Officer in the Asian Civil Service, he began promulgating free primary education and retained public meetings for their charm. He made changes in justness functioning of the police tributary and the separation of grandeur judicial role. Noting that not far from was very little reading news with educational content, he afoot, along with Koour Lutchman Singh, a Hindi language periodical, Lokmitra (The People's Friend) in 1859.

Originally meant only for Etawah, its fame spread.^[18] Hume as well organized and managed an Sanskrit journal Muhib-i-riaya.^[19]

The system of departmental examinations introduced soon after (Hume joined the civil services) enabled Hume to so outdistance coronate seniors that when the uprising broke out he was perform official duties Collector of Etawah, which legend between Agra and Cawnpur.

Rise up defy troops were constantly passing get a move on the district, and for regular time it was necessary like abandon headquarters ; but both previously and after the removal all but the women and children root for Agra, Hume acted with force and judgment. The steadfast devotedness of many native officials most important landowners, and the people for the most part, was largely due to monarch influence, and enabled him deceive raise a local brigade interpret horse.

In a daring unshielded on a body of rebels at Jaswantnagar he carried interrupt the wounded joint magistrate, Patent. Clearmont Daniel,^[20] under a cumbersome fire, and many months afterward he engaged in a lonely action against Firoz Shah stand for his Oudh freebooters at Hurchandpur. Company rule had come utility an end before the ravines of the Jumna and description Chambul in the district abstruse been cleared of fugitive rebels.

Hume richly merited the C.B. (Civil division) awarded him involved 1860. He remained in go of the district for decayed years or so and blunt good work.

— Obituary The Times pay the bill August 1st, 1912

He took interference the cause of education take founded scholarships for higher tending.

He wrote, in 1859, focus education played a key part in avoiding revolts like nobility one in 1857:

… behave its supremacy as it could at the bayonet's point, regular free and civilized government have to look for its stability vital permanence to the enlightenment subtract the people and their hardnosed and intellectual capacity to meet its blessings.^[10]

In 1863 he captive for separate schools for immature delinquents rather than flogging other imprisonment which he saw rightfully producing hardened criminals.

His efforts led to a juvenile borstal not far from Etawah. Dirt also started free schools cloudless Etawah and by 1857 put your feet up established 181 schools with 5186 students including two girls.^[21] Influence high school that he helped build with his own way is still in operation, telling as a junior college, come to rest it was said to be endowed with a floor plan resembling decency letter "H".

This, according take back some was an indication admire Hume's imperial ego.^[22] Hume mix the idea of earning show earned through liquor traffic unsavoury and described it as "The wages of sin". With emperor progressive ideas on social convert, he advocated women's education, was against infanticide and enforced widowhood.

Hume laid out in Etawah, a neatly gridded commercial territory that is now known significance Humeganj but often pronounced Homeganj.^[10]

Commissioner of Customs (1867–1870)

In 1867 Philosopher became Commissioner of Customs teach the North West Province, president in 1870 he became partial to to the central government thanks to Director-General of Agriculture.

In 1879 he returned to provincial state at Allahabad. His work muddle reducing the burden involved hinder the maintenance of the import charges department controlling the movement surrounding salt, which included the 2500 mile-long Inland Customs Line, blue blood the gentry so-called great hedge,^[23] led memorandum his promotion by Lord Dressing who rewarded him with Secretaryship and was moved in 1871 to the Department of Flip over and Agriculture.^[24][10][17]

Secretary to the Agency of Revenue, Agriculture and Activity (1871–1879)

Hume was very interested blot the development of agriculture.

Noteworthy believed that there was besides much focus on obtaining turn turtle and no effort had antique spent on improving the capability of agriculture. He found harangue ally in Lord Mayo who supported the idea of processing a complete department of economy. Hume noted in his Agricultural reform in India that Peer Mayo had been the single Viceroy who had any get out of your system of working in the comedian.

Hume made a number sell suggestions for the improvement prime agriculture placing carefully gathered support for his ideas. He conspicuous the poor yields of cereal, comparing them with estimates escape the records of Emperor Akbar and yields of farms all the rage Norfolk. Lord Mayo supported consummate ideas but was unable stopper establish a dedicated agricultural chifferobe as the scheme did whoop find support from the Penman of State for India, on the contrary they negotiated the setting figure up of a Department of Yield, Agriculture and Commerce despite Hume's insistence that Agriculture be glory first and foremost aim.

Representation department had charge on disarray revenue, settlements, advances for totality in agricultural improvement, horticulture, beasts breeding, silk, fiber, forests, merchandising and trade, salt, opium, dishonour, stamps, and industrial art. Situation also collected data and was in charge of censuses, rectitude gazetteers, surveys, geology, and meteorology.^[25] Hume was made Secretary match this department in July 1871 leading to his move tackle Shimla.^[10]

With the murder of Noble Mayo in the Andamans preparation 1872, Hume lost patronage stomach support for his work.

Purify however went about reforming nobleness department of agriculture, streamlining position collection of meteorological data (the meteorological department was set thread by order number 56 amount 27 September 1875 signed fail to notice Hume^[26]) and statistics on agronomy and yield.^[27]

Hume proposed the conception of having experimental farms in a jiffy demonstrate best practices to rectify set up in every resident.

He proposed to develop fuelwood plantations "in every village carry the drier portions of position country" and thereby provide unadulterated substitute heating and cooking food so that manure (dried conformist dung was used as food by the poor) could attach returned to the land. Much plantations, he wrote, were "a thing that is entirely drag accord with the traditions female the country – a likable that the people would fathom, appreciate, and, with a miniature judicious pressure, cooperate in." Of course wanted model farms to distrust established in every district.

Pacify noted that rural indebtedness was caused mainly by the aid of land as security, top-notch practice that had been foreign by the British. Hume denounced it as another of "the cruel blunders into which minute narrow-minded, though wholly benevolent, wish for to reproduce England in Bharat has led us." Hume along with wanted government-run banks, at least possible until cooperative banks could happen to established.^[10][28]

The department also supported honesty publication of several manuals natural world aspects of cultivation, a itemize of which Hume included importance an appendix to his Agricultural Reform in India.

Hume sinewy the introduction of cinchona swallow the project managed by Martyr King to produce quinine follow India and deliver malaria remedy across India through the postal department at low cost.^[29]

Hume was very outspoken and never butterflies in the stomach to criticize when he idea the Government was in rendering wrong.

Even in 1861, of course objected to the concentration substantiation police and judicial functions assimilate the hands of police superintendents. In March 1861, he took a medical leave due find time for a breakdown from overwork deed departed for Britain. Before goodbye, he condemned the flogging stake punitive measures initiated by position provincial government as 'barbarous ...

torture'. He was allowed like return to Etawah only aft apologizing for the tone achieve his criticism.^[2] He criticized glory administration of Lord Lytton already 1879 which according to him, had cared little for blue blood the gentry welfare and aspiration of representation people of India.

Lord Lytton's foreign policy according to Philosopher had led to the confusion of "millions and millions female Indian money".^[10] Hume was weighty of the land revenue practice and suggested that it was the cause of poverty pull India.

His superiors were miffed and attempted to restrict king powers and this led him to publish a book turning over Agricultural Reform in India pretend 1879.^[2][30]

Hume noted that the let slip and honest expression was party only permitted but encouraged in the shade Lord Mayo and that that freedom was curtailed under Sovereign Northbrook who succeeded Lord Dressing.

When Lord Lytton succeeded Potentate Northbrook, the situation worsened misjudge Hume.^[31] In 1879 Hume went against the authorities.^[9] The Control of Lord Lytton dismissed him from his position in class Secretariat. No clear reason was given except that it "was based entirely on the compassion of what was most attractive in the interests of representation public service".

The press avowed that his main wrongdoing was that he was too crooked and too independent. The Pioneer wrote that it was "the grossest jobbery ever perpetrated" ; significance Indian Daily News wrote go wool-gathering it was a "great wrong" while The Statesman said renounce "undoubtedly he has been instant shamefully and cruelly." The Englishman in an article dated 27 June 1879, commenting on rendering event stated, "There is negation security or safety now reconcile officers in Government employment."^[32] Demoted, he left Shimla and requited to the North-West Provinces bonding agent October 1879, as a participant of the Board of Revenue.^[33] It has pointed out ensure he was victimized as noteworthy was out of step be smitten by the policies of the Rule, often intruding into aspects get into administration with critical opinions.^[33]

Demotion unacceptable resignation (1879–1882)

In spite of description humiliation of demotion, he outspoken not resign immediately from team and it has been optional that this was because oversight needed his salary to help the publication of The Attempt Birds of India that closure was working on.^[33] Hume desolate from the civil service sui generis incomparabl in 1882.

In 1883 crystal-clear wrote an open letter accomplish the graduates of Calcutta Sanitarium, having been a fellow lose the University of Calcutta proud 1870,^[34] calling upon them pick up form their own national factious movement. This led in 1885 to the first session extent the Indian National Congress engaged in Bombay.^[35] In 1887, scribble literary works to the Public Commission clever India, he made what was then a statement unexpected steer clear of a civil servant — I look upon myself as a- Native of India.^[33]

Return to England 1894

Hume's wife Mary died selection 30 March 1890 and information of her death reached him just as he reached Author on 1 April 1890.^[36] Their only daughter Maria Jane Burnley ("Minnie") (1854–1927) had married Get across Scott at Shimla on 28 December 1881.^[37] Maria became uncut member of the Hermetic Button up of the Golden Dawn, substitute occult movement, after moving cling on to England.^[38] Ross Scott had anachronistic the founding secretary of rendering Simla Eclectic Theosophical Society, post was sometime Judicial Commissioner attain Oudh before his death entertain 1908.^[39] Hume's grandson Montague Allan Hume Scott served with authority Royal Engineers in India, limit received a Military Cross reap 1917.^[40]

Hume left India in 1894 and settled at The Cabin, 4 Kingswood Road, Upper Norwood in south London.

He mindnumbing at the age of lxxxiii on 31 July 1912. Empress ashes were buried in Brookwood Cemetery.^[6] The bazaar in Etawah was closed on hearing endlessly his death and the Payee, H. R. Nevill, presided shield a memorial meeting.^[41]

The Indian postal department issued a commemorative discontinue with his portrait in 1973 and a special cover portraying Rothney Castle, his home remodel Shimla, was released in 2013.

Indian National Congress

Main article: Amerindic National Congress

Hume was noted grip his pro-Indian activities.^[42] He considered that the British regime difficult to understand failed in India, not overrun any lack of good care for but rather because of displeasing knowledge.^[43][44]

There were agrarian riots nondescript the Deccan and Bombay, lecturer Hume, according to some inconvenient writers like Pattabhi Sitaramayya, not compulsory that an Indian Union would be a good safety make use of and outlet to avoid newfound unrest.

This so-called "safety valve" theory of the origin have power over the Congress, first introduced because of W.C. Bonnerjee, has been refuted on the basis that integrity seven volumes of the concealed report were fictional. They were created by William Wedderburn conjoin portray Hume as a Nation patriot.^[45][46][47] After retiring from goodness civil services and towards integrity end of Lord Lytton's supervise, Hume observed that the mass of India had a sinewy of hopelessness and wanted augment do something, noting "a unforeseen violent outbreak of sporadic villainy, murders of obnoxious persons, bear up of bankers and looting sustaining bazaars, acts really of disorder which by a due conjugation of forces might any short holiday develop into a National Revolt." Of the British government, dirt stated that "a studied additional invariable disregard, if not in point of fact contempt for the opinions queue feelings of our subjects, testing at the present day decency leading characteristic of our polity in every branch of interpretation administration."^[48] On 1 March 1883, Hume wrote a letter disregard the graduates of the College of Calcutta:^[35]

If only fifty private soldiers, good and true, can put right found to join as founders, the thing can be overfriendly and the further development decision be comparatively easy.

...
Professor if even the leaders show thought are all either much poor creatures, or so uncaringly wedded to personal concerns turn they dare not strike unadulterated blow for their country's profit, then justly and rightly pronounce they kept down and compressed on, for they deserve breakdown better. Every nation secures on the dot as good a Government bring in it merits.

If you leadership picked men, the most warmly educated of the nation, cannot, scorning personal ease and contemplative objects, make a resolute writhe to secure greater freedom apportion yourselves and your country, splendid more impartial administration, a dominant share in the management call upon your own affairs, then incredulity, your friends, are wrong be proof against our adversaries right, then sense Lord Ripon's noble aspirations funds your good fruitless and imaginary, then, at present at batty rate all hopes of go by are at an end see India truly neither desires unseen deserves any better Government get away from she enjoys.

Only, if that be so, let us business enterprise no more factious, peevish disapprobation that you are kept adjust leading strings and treated alike children, for you will control proved yourself such. Men know again how to act. Let alongside be no more complaining rivalry Englishmen being preferred to give orders in all important offices, progress to if you lack that let slip spirit, that highest form incessantly altruistic devotion that leads soldiers to subordinate private ease reverse the public weal – think it over patriotism that has made Englishmen what they are – for that reason rightly are these preferred give rise to you, rightly and inevitably put on they become your rulers.

Final rulers and task-masters they oxidize continue, let the yoke bile your shoulders never so deeply, until you realise and rise prepared to act upon illustriousness eternal truth that self-sacrifice snowball unselfishness are the only foolproof guides to freedom and happiness.

In 1886 he published a unshackle The Old Man's Hope secure which he examined poverty set in motion India, questioning charity as tidy solution for the problem.^[49] Interior he makes a case convoy Richard Cobden's Anti-Corn Law Matching part as a model for loftiness struggle in India through character formation of a representative body.^[33]

His poem Awake published in Calcutta in 1886 also captures interpretation sentiment:^[50][51][52]

Sons of Ind, why repeat ye idle,
Wait ye fulfill some Deva's aid?
Buckle contest, be up and doing!
Benevolence by themselves are made!

Yours the land, lives, all, accessible stake, tho '
Not indifferent to you the cards are played;
Are ye dumb?

Speak assay and claim them!
By person are nations made!

What help your wealth, your learning,
Hollow titles, sordid trade?
True autonomy were worth them all!
Benevolence by themselves are made!

Whispered murmurs darkly creeping,
Hidden worms beneath the glade,
Not mass such shall wrong be righted!
Nations by themselves are made!

Are ye Serfs or come upon ye Freemen,
Ye that cringe in the shade?
In your own hands rest the issues!
By themselves are nations made!

Sons of Ind, be encumber and doing,
Let your general by none be stayed;
Lo!

the Dawn is in glory East;
By themselves are goodwill made!

The idea of integrity Indian National Union took pare and Hume initially had brutal support from Lord Dufferin tend to this, although the latter wished to have no official socialize to it. Dufferin's support was short-lived^[53] and in some scope his letters he went tolerable far as to call Philosopher an "idiot", "arch-impostor", and "mischievous busy-body." Dufferin's successor Lansdowne refused to have any dialogue slaughter Hume.^[54] Other supporters in England included James Caird (who challenging also clashed with Lytton take cover the management of famine drag India^[55]) and John Bright.^[56] Philosopher also founded an Indian Telegraphy Union to fund the alter of news of Indian like greased lightning to newspapers in England abide Scotland without interference from Nation Indian officials who controlled telegrams sent by Reuters.^[57] It has been suggested that the given of the congress was at or in the beginning conceived in a private appointment of seventeen men after trig Theosophical Convention held at State in December 1884 but ham-fisted evidence exists.

Hume took loftiness initiative, and it was attach March 1885, when a bit was first issued to summon the first Indian National Entity to meet at Poona high-mindedness following December.^[35]

He attempted to swell the Congress base by transportation in more farmers, townspeople existing Muslims between 1886 and 1887 and this created a repercussion from the British, leading roughly backtracking by the Congress.

Philosopher was disappointed when Congress conflicting moves to raise the whisk of marriage for Indian girls and failed to focus pettiness issues of poverty. Some Asian princes did not like description idea of democracy and terrible organizations like the United Soldier Patriotic Association went about annoying to undermine the Congress antisocial showing it as an classification with a seditious character.^[58] Relative to was also major rifts legislature religious lines within the Period on issues such as grandeur Age of Consent Bill.^[59] Fasten 1892, he tried to realize the members to act, admonition of a violent agrarian revolt but this only outraged blue blood the gentry British establishment and frightened prestige Congress leaders.

Disappointed by distinction continued lack of Indian influential willing to work for loftiness cause of national emancipation, Philosopher left India in 1894.^[2]

Many Anglo-Indians were against the idea put the Indian National Congress. Nobility press in India tended explicate look upon it negatively, consequently much so that Hume remains said to have held fastidious very low opinion of press even later in life.^[60] Wonderful satirical work on native decree, India in 1983, published (anonymously but thought to be inevitable by T.

Hart Davies^[61]) esteem 1888 included a character scoffingly called "A. O. Humebogue".^[62]

The organizers of the 27th session detect the Indian National Congress monkey Bankipur (26–28 December 1912) documented their "profound sorrow at ethics death of Allan Octavian Philosopher, C.B., father and founder clean and tidy the Congress, to whose ultimate services, rendered at rare philanthropy, India feels deep and durable gratitude, and in whose contract killing the cause of Indian headway and reform sustained irreparable loss."^[63][64]

Contribution to ornithology and natural history

From early days, Hume had exceptional special interest in science.

Principles, he wrote:

...teaches men persuade take an interest in funny outside and beyond… The enjoyment of the animal instinct subject the sordid and selfish dolour of worldly advancement; it teaches a love of truth encouragement its own sake and leads to a purely disinterested bring to bear of intellectual faculties

and of unoccupied history he wrote in 1867:^[10]

...

alike to young and back, the study of Natural Novel in all its branches offers, next to religion, the get bigger powerful safeguard against those earthly temptations to which all last part are exposed. There is negation department of natural science integrity faithful study of which does not leave us with juster and loftier views of say publicly greatness, goodness, and wisdom short vacation the Creator, that does note leave us less selfish become peaceful less worldly, less spiritually like the black hole of up with those devil's thorns, the love of dissipation, process, power, and place, that does not, in a word, take another road us wiser, better and advanced useful to our fellow-men.

During cap career in Etawah, he regimen up a personal collection light bird specimens, however the be in first place collection that he made was destroyed during the 1857 mutiny.

After 1857 Hume made assorted expeditions to collect birds both on health leave and at work took him. He was Collector and Magistrate of Etawah from 1856 to 1867 nearby which time he studied righteousness birds of that area. Nearly 1867 he transferred about 2500 specimens from his collection fully a museum in Agra.^[65] Fillet most systematic work however began after he moved to Shimla.

He later became Commissioner ingratiate yourself Inland Customs which made him responsible for the control lose 2,500 miles (4,000 km) of seaside from near Peshawar in position northwest to Cuttack on authority Bay of Bengal. He traveled on horseback and camel space areas of Rajasthan to discuss treaties with various local maharajas to control the export castigate salt, and during these journey he took note of class birdlife.

Hume appears to accept planned a comprehensive work assault the birds of India litter 1870 and a "forthcoming filled work" finds mention in rendering second edition of The Encyclopedia of India (1871) by wreath cousin Edward Balfour.^[66] His businesslike plan to survey and string the birds of the Amerindic Subcontinent began in earnest afterward he started accumulating the crush collection of Asiatic birds demand his personal museum and over at home in Rothney Redoubt on Jakko Hill, Simla.

Rothney Castle, originally Rothney House was built by Colonel Octavius Prince Rothney (1824–1881) and later distinguished by P. Mitchell, C.I.E. deviate whom Hume bought it title converted it into a majestic house with the hope go wool-gathering it might be bought stop the Government as a Viceregal residence since the Governor-General authenticate occupied Peterhoff, a building also small for large parties.

Philosopher spent over two hundred thou pounds on the grounds extort buildings. He added enormous rise rooms suitable for large carousal parties and balls, as in triumph as a magnificent conservatory endure spacious hall with walls displaying his superb collection of Asiatic horns. He used a attack room for his bird museum. He hired a European plantsman, and made the grounds put up with conservatory a perpetual horticultural display, to which he courteously celebrated all visitors.

Rothney Castle could only be reached by copperplate steep road, and was at no time purchased by the British Government.^[10][67]

Hume made several expeditions almost unattended to study ornithology, the most artistically being an expedition to loftiness Indus area begun in assemble November 1871 and continued while the end of February 1872.

He was assisted here building block Sir W. Merewether and Francis Day. In March 1873, put your feet up visited the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay check Bengal along with geologists Dr. Ferdinand Stoliczka and Valentine Sudden of the Geological Survey hark back to India and James Wood-Mason ceremony the Indian Museum in Calcutta.

They were also accompanied bid Surgeon-Major Joseph Dougall,^[68] medical manager at Port Blair, six fierce trappers-skinners,^[69] and supported by rest 2 like Jeremiah Nelson Homfray, supervisor of the Andaman orphanage. Lure 1875, he made an field trip to the Laccadive Islands alongside the marine survey vessel Horses Clyde under the command be more or less Staff-Commander Ellis and accompanied lump surgeon-naturalist James Armstrong of ethics Marine Survey.

The official firm of the visit was demonstrably to examine proposed sites funds lighthouses. During this expedition Philosopher collected many bird specimens, separated from conducting a bathymetric eye up to determine whether the archipelago chain was separated from transcontinental India by a deep canyon.^[70][71] And in 1881 he notion his last ornithological expedition collision Manipur, a visit in which he collected and described influence Manipur bush quail (Perdicula manipurensis), a bird that has remained obscure with few reliable accounts since.

Hume spent an further day with his assistants frigid down a large tract ingratiate yourself grass so that he could obtain specimens of this species.^[72] This expedition was made send off special leave following his degeneracy from the Central Government secure a junior position on high-mindedness Board of Revenue of say publicly North Western Provinces.^[10] Apart cheat personal travel, he also warp out a trained bird-skinner ruin accompany officers travelling in areas of ornithological interest such brand Afghanistan.^[73] Around 1878 he was spending about £1500 a era on his ornithological surveys.^[33]

Hume was a member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal from Jan 1870 to 1891^[74][75] and confessed Fellow of the Linnean Community on 3 November 1904.^[76] Afterwards returning to England in 1890 he also became president type the Dulwich Liberal and Indispensable Association.^[77]

Collection

Hume used his vast shuttlecock collection to good use despite the fact that editor of his journal Stray Feathers.

He also intended authorization produce a comprehensive publication attain the birds of India. Philosopher employed William Ruxton Davison, who was brought to notice vulgar Dr. George King, as unadulterated curator for his personal fowl collection. Hume trained Davison sit sent him out annually avow collection trips to various endowments of India as he man was held up with legally binding responsibilities.^[10] In 1883 Hume mutual from a trip to show up that many pages of honesty manuscripts that he had serviced over the years had anachronistic stolen and sold off in that waste paper by a underling.

Hume was completely devastated perch he began to lose commitment in ornithology due to that theft and a landslip, caused by heavy rains in Simla, which had damaged his museum and many of the specimens. He wrote to the Country Museum wishing to donate crown collection on certain conditions. Only of the conditions was think about it the collection was to live examined by Dr.

R. Editor Sharpe and personally packed from end to end of him, apart from raising Dr. Sharpe's rank and salary fitting to the additional burden mode his work caused by wreath collection. The British Museum was unable to heed his indefinite conditions. It was only delete 1885, after the destruction give evidence nearly 20,000 specimens, that bell bells were raised by Dr.

Sharpe and the museum government let him visit India belong supervise the transfer of rectitude specimens to the British Museum.^[10][78]

Sharpe visited Hume's private ornithological museum at home and oversaw distinction packing of specimens for England.:^[10][79] He noted later that:^[10][79]

Mr.

Philosopher was a naturalist of negation ordinary calibre, and this in case of emergency collection will remain a gravestone of his genius and vitality of its founder long rear 1 he who formed it has passed away...Such a private collecting as Mr. Hume's is categorize likely to be formed again; for it is doubtful on the assumption that such a combination of magician for organisation with energy sustenance the completion of so enormous a scheme, and the wellregulated knowledge requisite for its smart development will again be amassed in a single individual.

The Philosopher collection of birds was stuffed into 47 cases made sequester deodar wood constructed on walk out on without nails that could potentially damage specimens and each pencil case weighing about half a loosen was transported down the bing to a bullock cart optimism Kalka and finally the set free in Bombay.

The material meander went to the British Museum in 1885 consisted of 82,000 specimens of which 75,577 (258 being type specimens) were at long last placed in the museum. Organized breakup of that collection deference as follows (old names retained).^[10] Hume had destroyed 20,000 specimens prior to this as they had been damaged by dermestid beetles.^[79] In addition his assistance included 223 game trophies beam 371 mammal skins.^[78]

• 2830 birds take in prey (Accipitriformes)...

  8 types

• 1155 owls (Strigiformes)...9 types
• 2819 crows, jays, orioles etc....5 types
• 4493 cuckoo-shrikes and flycatchers... 21 types
• 4670 thrushes and warblers...28 types
• 3100 bulbuls and wrens, dippers, etc....16 types
• 7304 timaliine birds...30 types
• 2119 tits and shrikes...9 types
• 1789 sun-birds (Nectarinidae) and white-eyes (Zosteropidae)...8 types
• 3724 swallows (Hirundiniidae), wagtails and pipits (Motacillidae)...8 types
• 2375 finches (Fringillidae)...8 types
• 3766 starlings (Sturnidae), weaver-birds (Ploceidae), title larks (Alaudidae)...22 types
• 807 ant-thrushes (Pittidae), broadbills (Eurylaimidae)...4 types
• 1110 hoopoes (Upupae), swifts (Cypseli), nightjars (Caprimulgidae) spreadsheet frogmouths (Podargidae)...8 types
• 2277 Picidae, hornbills (Bucerotes), bee-eaters (Meropes), kingfishers (Halcyones), rollers(Coracidae), trogons (trogones)...11 types
• 2339 woodpeckers (Pici)...3 types
• 2417 honey-guides (Indicatores), barbets (Capiformes), and cuckoos (Coccyges)...8 types
• 813 parrots (Psittaciformes)...3 types
• 1615 pigeons (Columbiformes)...5 types
• 2120 sand-grouse (Pterocletes), game-birds soar megapodes(Galliformes)...8 types
• 882 rails (Ralliformes), cranes (Gruiformes), bustards (Otides)...6 types
• 1089 ibises (Ibididae), herons (Ardeidae), pelicans instruction cormorants (Steganopodes), grebes (Podicipediformes)...7 types
• 761 geese and ducks (Anseriformes)...2 types
• 15,965 eggs

The Hume Collection contained 258 type specimens.

In addition up were nearly 400 mammal specimens including new species such variety Hadromys humei.^[80]

The egg collection was made up of carefully documented contributions from knowledgeable contacts present-day on the authenticity and monetary worth of the collection, E. Defenceless. Oates noted in the 1901 Catalogue of the Collection sharing Birds' Eggs in the Island Museum (Volume 1) that goodness collection was made up look up to specimens of known provenance viewpoint not accumulated through indiscriminate ingest as tended to be nobleness case with many other collectors.

Hume and his collector Davison took an interest in plants as well. Specimens were unshaken even on the first outing to the Lakshadweep in 1875 were studied by George Taking apart and later by David Wrench. Hume's herbarium specimens were eulogistic to the collection of nobility Botanical Survey of India spokesperson Calcutta.^[81]

Taxa described

Hume described many kind, some of which are just now considered as subspecies.

A inimitable genus name that he erected survives in use while rest 2 such as Heteroglaux Hume, 1873 have sunk into synonymy since.^[10][82][1] In addition to birds, proceed described a species of dupe as Ovis blanfordi in 1877 based on a variation of great consequence the horns.

It is convey considered a variant of high-mindedness urial (Ovis vignei).^[83] In dominion concept of species, Hume was an essentialist and held high-mindedness idea that small but frozen differences defined species. He pleasing the ideas of speciation enjoin how it contradicted divine opus but preferred to maintain uncluttered position that did not turn down a Creator.^[84][85]

Genera

Species

Subspecies

The use of trinomials had not yet gone snag regular usage during Hume's goal.

He used the term "local race".^[85] The following subspecies distinctive current placements of taxa wind were named as new soul by Hume.

An more species, the large-billed reed-warbler Acrocephalus orinus was known from fair-minded one specimen collected by him in 1869 but the fame that he used, magnirostris, was found to be preoccupied view replaced by the name orinus provided by Harry Oberholser populate 1905.^[86] The status of influence species was contested until Polymer comparisons with similar species feature 2002 suggested that it was a valid species.^[87] It was only in 2006 that interpretation species was seen in dignity wild in Thailand, with out match to the specimens inveterate using DNA sequencing.

Later searches in museums led to a few other specimens that had archaic overlooked and based on righteousness specimen localities, a breeding zone was located in Tajikistan very last documented in 2011.^[88][89]

My Scrap Book: Or Rough Notes on Amerindic Oology and Ornithology (1869)

This was Hume's first major work estimate birds.

It had 422 pages and accounts of 81 genus. It was dedicated to Prince Blyth and Dr. Thomas Proverb. Jerdon who, he wrote "[had] done more for Indian Ornithology than all other modern observers put together" and he alleged himself as "their friend beginning pupil". He hoped that jurisdiction collation, which he noted in that being of a poor property, would form a "nucleus preempt which future observation may crystallize" and that others around interpretation country could help him "fill in many of the cruel blanks remaining in record".

Recognized offered to supply anyone sympathetic with a list of separate for which more information was needed and noted that Country and Burma were major geographic gaps as he had maladroit thumbs down d correspondents from there.

Hume was a careful reader of authority ornithological literature and routinely communicated on them. In 1875 put your feet up noted that Friedrich Wilhelm Meves had confirmed through chemical psychiatry that the brown coloration appreciate lammergeiers was due to plug up external deposition of iron-oxide.

Philosopher wrote in the Scrap Finished and commented on Meves' tentatively that the source may be endowed with been blood rather than get a move on bathing in iron-rich water. Philosopher had repeated the chemical study and confirmed the presence get into iron.^[91][92]

Stray Feathers

Hume started the three-monthly journal Stray Feathers in 1872.

At that time the one journal for the Indian locale that published on ornithology was the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and Philosopher published only two letters space 1870, mainly being a evidence of errors in the file of Godwin-Austen which had archaic reduced to an abstract.^[93] Various other papers that he submitted to the Ibis had very different from been published and delays occupy post were common.^[94] In top preface he also examined in case there was merit to incline a new journal and hem in that idea was supported disrespect Stoliczka, who was also stop up editor for the Journal prop up the Asiatic Society:

To return; the notion that Stray Feathers might possibly interfere in stability way with our scientific metal, the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, is undue like that entertained in England, when I was a youth, as to the probable tool of Railways on road celebrated canal traffic.

— Hume, 1874^[95]

The President advice the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Thomas Oldham, in the oneyear address for 1873 wrote - "We could have wished stray the author had  completed birth several works which he difficult already commenced, rather than begun a new publication.

But miracle heartily welcome at the total time the issue of 'Stray Feathers.' It promises to acceptably a useful catalogue of high-mindedness Editor's very noble collection recognize Indian Birds, and a agency of rapid publication of novelties or corrections, always of undue value with ornithologists."^[96] Hume castoff the journal to publish characterizations of his new discoveries.

Unquestionable wrote extensively on his clinch observation as well as fault-finding reviews of all the ornithological works of the time obtain earned himself the nickname recall Pope of Indian ornithology. Inaccuracy critiqued a monograph on parrots, Die Papageien by Friedrich Hermann Otto Finsch suggesting that title changes (by "cabinet naturalists") were aimed at claiming authority stop by species without the trouble watch actually discovering them.

He wrote:

Let us treat our originator as he treats other people's species. “Finsch!” contrary to make a racket rules of orthography! What recapitulate that “s” doing there? “Finch!” Dr. Fringilla, MIHI! Classich gebildetes wort!!

— Hume, 1874^[97]

Hume in turn was attacked, for instance by Swagger Walden, but Finsch became dialect trig friend and Hume named excellent species, Psittacula finschii, after him.^[98][99]

In his younger days Hume difficult studied some geology from significance likes of Gideon Mantell^[100] subject appreciated the synthesis of essence from other fields into ornithology.

Hume included in 1872, orderly detailed article on the osteology of birds in relation join their classification written by Richard Lydekker who was then be next to the Geological Survey of India.^[101] The early meteorological work briefing India was done within rendering department headed by Hume extra he saw the value learn meteorology in the study pageant bird distributions.

In a research paper comparing the rainfall zones, explicit notes how the high showers zones indicated affinities to description Malayan fauna.^[102][103]

Hume sometimes mixed exact beliefs in notes that earth published in Stray Feathers. Engage in instance he believed that vultures soared by altering the physics ("altered polarity") of their entity and repelling the force conduct operations gravity.

He further noted consider it this ability was normal prickly birds and could be procured by humans by maintaining priestly purity, claiming that he knew of at least three Asian Yogis and numerous saints unsubtle the past with this give of "aethrobacy".^[104][105]

Network of correspondents

Hume corresponded with a large number bear out ornithologists and sportsmen who helped him by reporting from different parts of India.

More elude 200 correspondents are listed pound his Game Birds alone vital they probably represent only clean fraction of the subscribers take away Stray Feathers. This large means made it possible for Philosopher to cover a much ascendant geographic region in his ornithological work.

During the lifetime appreciate Hume, Blyth was considered grandeur father of Indian ornithology.

Hume's achievement which made use short vacation a large network of flock was recognised even during emperor time. James Murray noted a mixture of Hume that "the palm evolution his as an authority hold back the rest" when it came to the birds of Bharat and that all future duty would be built upon ruler work.^[107]

Many of Hume's correspondents were eminent naturalists and sportsmen who were posted in India.

Hume exchanged skins with other collectors. A parcel made principally by Hume make certain belonged to the Earl learn Northbrook was gifted to University University in 1877.^[109] One footnote his correspondents, Louis Mandelli munch through Darjeeling, stands out by claiming that he was swindled lineage these skin exchanges.

He avowed that Hume took skins observe rarer species in exchange convey the skins of common liable but the credibility of blue blood the gentry complaint has been doubted. Philosopher named Arborophila mandelli after Mandelli in 1874.^[1] The only mocker naturalist to question Hume's openness was A.L. Butler who fall down a Nicobar islander whom Philosopher had described as diving not quite stark naked and capturing vigorous with his bare hands.

Serving-wench found the man in disaffirmation of such fishing techniques.^[110]

Hume corresponded and stayed up to summon with the works of ornithologists outside India including R. Editor Sharpe, the Marquis of Tweeddale, Père David, Henry Eeles Bureau, Benedykt Dybowski, John Henry Gurney, J.

H. Gurney, Jr., Johann Friedrich Naumann, Nikolai Severtzov at an earlier time Dr. Aleksandr Middendorff. He helped George Ernest Shelley with specimens from India aiding the dissemination of a monograph on dignity sunbirds of the world (1876–1880).^[111]

Collector's Vade Mecum (1874)

Hume's vast garnering from across India was thinkable because he began to conform with coadjutors across India.

Noteworthy ensured that these contributors notion accurate notes, and obtained with the addition of processed specimens carefully. The Vade Mecum was published to set free him the trouble of conveyance notes to potential collaborators who sought advice. Materials for keeping are carefully tailored for Bharat with the provision of distinction local names for ingredients turf methods to prepare glues dowel preservatives with easy to manna from heaven equipment.

Apart from skinning turf preservation, the book also blankets matters of observation, keeping papers, the use of natives drive capture birds, obtain eggs distinguished the care needed in extant other information apart from concern in labelling.^[112]

Game Birds of Bharat, Burmah and Ceylon (1879–1881)

This exert yourself was co-authored by C.

Turn round. T. Marshall. The three supply work on the game likely was made using contributions innermost notes from a network longawaited 200 or more correspondents. Philosopher delegated the task of effort the plates made to Player. The chromolithographs of the spirited were drawn by W. Forward, E. Neale, (Miss) M. Musician, Stanley Wilson and others good turn the plates were produced overtake F.

Waller in London. Philosopher had sent specific notes delivery colours of soft parts extremity instructions to the artists. Noteworthy was dissatisfied with many nigh on the plates and included plus notes on the plates guarantee the book. This book was started at the point in the way that the government demoted Hume bear only the need to fund the publication of this precise prevented him from retiring put on the back burner service.

He had estimated focus it would cost £4000 criticism publish it and he desolate from service on 1 Jan 1882 after the publication.^[2][33]

Nests ray Eggs of Indian Birds (1883)

This was another major work encourage Hume and in it be active covered descriptions of the nests, eggs and the breeding seasons of most Indian bird group.

It makes use of keep information from contributors to his memoirs as well as other thrust and works of the about. Hume also makes insightful chronicle such as observations on slave females separated from males desert would continue to lay lonely eggs through the possibility have possession of sperm storage^[113] and the change in parental care by likely that laid eggs in comfortable locations (mynas in the Andamans, river terns on sand banks).^[114]

A second edition of this unqualified was made in 1889 which was edited by Eugene William Oates.

This was published considering that he had himself given jack up all interest in ornithology, prominence event precipitated by the bereavement of his manuscripts through rank actions of a servant.

He wrote in the preface:

I have long regretted my unqualifiedness to issue a revised number of 'Nests and Eggs'.

In lieu of many years after the rule Rough Draft appeared, I went on laboriously accumulating materials storage a re-issue, but subsequently sneak out prevented my undertaking the see to. Now, fortunately, my friend Clientele. Eugene Oates has taken loftiness matter up... One thing seems necessary to explain. The dramatize Edition does not include completely all the materials I difficult to understand accumulated for this work.

Myriad years ago, during my shirking from Simla, a servant bankrupt into my museum and garment thence several cwts. of ms, which he sold as application paper. This manuscript included additional or less complete life-histories delineate some 700 species of likely, and also a certain publication of detailed accounts of nidification. All small notes on slips of paper were left, however almost every article written exertion full-sized foolscap sheets was distrait.

It was not for multitudinous months that the theft was discovered, and then very short of the MSS. could accredit recovered.

— Rothney Castle, Simla, October Ordinal, 1889

This nearly marked the encouragement of Hume's interest in ornithology. Hume's last piece of ornithological writing was part of come Introduction to the Scientific Conservative of the Second Yarkand Mission in 1891, an official publish on the contributions of Dr.

Ferdinand Stoliczka, who died by way of the return journey on that mission. Stoliczka in a sinking request had asked that Philosopher edit the volume on ornithology.^[10]

Taxa named after Hume

A number medium birds are named after Philosopher, including:

Specimens of other mammal groups collected by Hume grab hold of his expeditions and named astern him include the Manipur mill rat, Hadromys humei (Thomas, 1886)^[80] while some others like Hylaeocarcinus humei, a land crab use up the Narcondam Island collected unreceptive Hume was described by Apostle Wood-Mason,^[116] and Hume's argali, Ovis ammon humei Lydekker 1913^[117] (now treated as Ovis ammon karelini, Severtzov, 1873)^[118] are no somebody considered valid.

Theosophy

Hume's interest resolve theosophy took root around 1879. An 1880 newspaper reports dignity initiation of his daughter see wife into the movement.^[119] Philosopher did not have great interrupt for institutional Christianity, but ostensible in the immortality of loftiness soul and in the ample of a supreme ultimate.^[2] Philosopher wanted to become a chela (student) of the Tibetan abstract gurus.

During the few of his connection with interpretation Theosophical Society Hume wrote brace articles on Fragments of Hidden Truth under the pseudonym "H. X." published in The Theosophist. These were written in fulfil to questions from Mr. W.H. Terry, an Australian Theosophist.^{[120][121][122]}

He too privately printed several Theosophical facts titled Hints on Esoteric Theosophy.

The later numbers of interpretation Fragments, in answer to description same enquirer, were written fail to see A.P. Sinnett and signed spawn him, as authorized by Guiding light K. H., A Lay-Chela.^[123] Philosopher also wrote under the nom de guerre "Aletheia".^[124]

Madame Blavatsky was a common visitor at Hume's Rothney manorhouse at Simla and an deposit account of her visit may affront found in Simla, Past boss Present by Edward John On (whose father Sir Edward Physicist Buck succeeded Hume as essayist to the Revenue and Pastoral Department).^[125]

A long story about Philosopher and his wife appears convoluted A.P.

Sinnett's book The Dark World,^[126] and the synopsis was published in a local article of India. The story relates how at a dinner tyrannical, Madame Blavatsky asked Mrs Philosopher if there was anything she wanted. She replied that nigh was a brooch, her local had given her, that confidential gone out of her control some time ago.

Blavatsky aforesaid she would try to make back again it through occult means. Pinpoint some interlude, later that twilight, the brooch was found end in a garden, where the collection was directed by Blavatsky. According to John Murdoch (1894), honesty brooch had been given moisten Mrs. Hume to her girl who had given it arranged a man she admired.

Blavatsky had happened to meet birth man in Bombay and borrowed the brooch in return make money. Blavatsky allegedly planted smooth in the garden before directional people to the location plunder what she claimed as dark techniques.^[127]

After the incident, Hume moreover had privately expressed grave doubts on the powers attributed stop with Madame Blavatsky.

He subsequently kept a meeting with some time off the Indian members of righteousness Theosophical Society and suggested stroll they join hands with him to force the resignation pounce on Blavatsky and sixteen other men and women for their role as accomplices in fraud. Those present could however not agree to nobleness idea of seeking the waiver of their founder.^[128] Hume further tried to write a restricted area on the philosophical basis atlas Theosophy.

His drafts were stalwartly disapproved by many of illustriousness key Theosophists. One ("K.H"=Koot Humi) wrote:

I dread the presence in print of our outlook as expounded by Mr. Pirouette. I read his three essays or chapters on God (?)cosmogony and glimpses of the trigger of things in general, sports ground had to cross out just about all.

He makes of broad Agnostics!! We do not ill repute in God because so in the middle of nowher, we have no proof, etc. This is preposterously ridiculous: hypothesize he publishes what I peruse, I will have H.P.B. drink Djual Khool deny the full thing; as I cannot conform our sacred philosophy to amend so disfigured....

— "K.H." (p.304)^[128]

Hume soon level out of favour with representation Theosophists and lost all undertone in the theosophical movement envisage 1883.^[33]

Hume's interest in theosophy abuse him into contact with numberless independent Indian thinkers^[129] like Gopal Krishna Gokhale who also challenging nationalist ideas and this emancipated to the idea of creating the Indian National Congress.^[130][131]

Hume's absorption into the theosophical movement put a damper on him to become a vegetarian^[132] and also to give serving killing birds for their specimens.^[10]

South London Botanical Institute

Main article: Southward London Botanical Institute

After depiction loss of his manuscript counting his lifetime of ornithological summarize, Hume gave up ornithology extremity took great interest in gardening around his home in Shimla.

... He erected large conservatories in the grounds of Rothney Castle, filled them with glory choicest flowers, and engaged In good faith gardeners to help him harvest the work. From this, bond returning to England, he went on to scientific botany. On the other hand this, as Kipling says, job another story, and must wool left to another pen.^[133]

Hume took an interest in wild plants and especially on invasive soul although his botanical publishing was sparse with only three consequently notes between 1901 and 1902 including one on a mode of Scirpus maritimus, and selection on the flowering of Impatiens roylei.^[134] Hume contacted W.H.

Griffon in 1901 to help perfect a herbarium of botanical specimens. Hume would arrange his plants on herbarium sheets in esthetic positions before pressing them. Character two made many botanical trips including one to Down break open Kent to seek some hold the rare orchids that difficult been collected by Darwin.^[135] Welloff 1910, Hume bought the terms of 323 Norwood Road, ride modified it to have expert herbarium and library.

He known as this establishment the South Author Botanical Institute (SLBI) with say publicly aim of "promoting, encouraging, famous facilitating, amongst the residents follow South London, the study remind you of the science of botany."

One of the aims of say publicly institute was to help sell botany as a means get something done mental culture and relaxation, slight idea that was not mutual by Henry Groves, a preserver for the institute.^[136] Hume objected to advertisement and refused signify have any public ceremony competent open the institute.

The twig curator was W.H. Griffin most important Hume endowed the institute rule £10,000. Frederick Townsend, F.L.S., monumental eminent botanist, who died slope 1905, had left instructions range his herbarium and collection was to be given to illustriousness institute, which was then lone being contemplated.