James Calvert

James Snowden Calvert (born July 13, 1825 in Otley , Yorkshire , England , † July 22, 1884 in Sydney , New South Wales , Australia ) was a botanist and explorer.

James Calvert was the son of William Calvert, a leather manufacturer, and his wife Ann, nee Coates. He went to school in Liverpool , Manchester and Birmingham . In 1841 he emigrated with his brother William and arrived in Sydney on February 14, 1842. On this ship he met Ludwig Leichhardt and became acquainted with him.

Two years later he took part in Leichhardt's first Australian expedition from Jimbour to Port Essington , which arrived at its destination after 14 months at the end of December 1845. There were different views between the expedition team and Leichhardt. Leichhardt wrote in a letter: "The only one who behaved perfectly, with few exceptions, was a young man, Mr. Calvert, who came in the same boat with me from England". ("The only one who behaved well, with a few exceptions, was a young man, Mr. Calvert, who came from England in the same ship with me").

Calvert did not participate in any further expedition and became administrator of the Cavan Station at Yass . His interest in botanical research was low. He made connections with leading botanists and was particularly interested in winning medals at botanical exhibitions in London and Paris.

On March 11, 1869, he married Caroline Louisa Waring Atkinson, a naturalist and writer. He had a daughter. After the death of his wife in April 1872, Calvert lived alone and died in Sydney in 1884.

In Queensland , Calvert has been honored with several names. Leichhardt named the Calvert River after him.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ adb.anu.edu.au : AH Chisholm: Calvert, James Snowden (1825–1884)