fbpx
Wikipedia

Abraham Dee Bartlett

January 01, 1970

Abraham Dee Bartlett (27 October 1812 – 7 May 1897) was a British taxidermist and an expert on captive animals. A superintendent of the London Zoo, he was a prominent observer of animal life and a zoologist who became a popular authority on wildlife. Bartlett brought the London Zoo into prominence and was associated with many naturalists including Charles Darwin.

Bartlett in 1886

Early life edit

 
Bartlett in 1871

Abraham was the second son of John Bartlett and Jane Dunster. John Bartlett had apprenticed under William Turner, father of J. M. W. Turner, the famous artist, and was a hairdresser and brushmaker. Abraham became interested in animals a child and was allowed by his father's friend, Edward Cross, owner of the menagerie Exeter Exchange in the Strand, to make regular visits. This interest led to Cross introducing him to taxidermy. He, however, began to work as an apprentice to his father in the hairdressing business before he shifted to taxidermy in 1834. His taxidermy business near the British Museum was so successful that he was able to move to larger home, and towards the end of his life, he owned three houses. He married Lydia Norvall and had four daughters and two sons.[1]

He became a member of the Zoological Society of London thanks to a physician named Anthony White who introduced him other others including William Yarrell, W. Ogilby, John Gould and D. W. Mitchell. He then became a secretary of the society.[2]

London Zoo edit

 
Punch magazine joking in January, 1873
 
Bartlett family grave in Highgate Cemetery

Bartlett supported D. W. Mitchell on the idea that the collection of animals held by the Zoological Society of London could be made accessible to the public for a small fee that could help the society. It was open on Mondays for a fee of six pence. Queen Victoria gave him a gold watch for taking care of her pet birds. Dead birds were sent to him for taxidermic preservation, and for his excellent exhibits, he received a gold medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851. He was among the first to reconstruct a specimen of the dodo, and this was displayed at Sydenham Crystal Palace, where he was also appointed naturalist around 1852. The restoration was destroyed, though, in the 1866 fire. He associated himself with the Zoological Society and was offered the position of superintendent made vacant by the death of John Thompson at the garden in Regents Park in 1859. As superintendent, Bartlett became a familiar figure for visiting naturalists and corresponded with many across the world.[2] He was an agent for the acquisition of wild animals from suppliers such as Edward Blyth and was involved in their sale to circus agents such as P.T. Barnum. He kept the position at the zoo, and became a familiar figure until his death. He became an authority on the care of wild animals and published papers in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society and other journals. He received a silver medal by the Zoological Society in 1872 and was made an associate of the Linnean Society in 1879.[1] Charles Darwin often discussed his ideas on sexual selection with Bartlett. He noted, for instance: "I asked Mr. Bartlett, of the Zoological Gardens, who has had very large experience with birds, whether the male tragopan (one of the Gallinaceae) was polygamous, and I was struck by his answering, 'I do not know, but I should think so from his splendid colours.'"[3][4] When Darwin was studying the facial expressions of wild animals, he was introduced to the artistic and observational abilities of Joseph Wolf by Bartlett. Wolf was able to make illustrations of fleeting facial expressions for Darwin, although Wolf himself had reservations about Darwin's interpretations.[5]

 
Left to right: Charles Rice, Carl Hagenbeck, Clarence Bartlett and William Jamrach

In 1882, Bartlett became unpopular after deciding to sell the popular African elephant Jumbo to P. T. Barnum for £2000. A case was made against the sale, but the courts ruled against any interference.[6]

A species of bird of paradise Paradisaea bartletti was named after Bartlett by William Goodwin in 1860 based on a female specimen.[7] This was later identified as a synonym of the already described Paradisaea minor.[8]

Bartlett died in the zoo premises on 7 May 1897, after suffering from an illness, and was buried on the west side of Highgate Cemetery. His son, Clarence, who had been assistant superintendent at the zoo, took his position as superintendent. Another son, Edward Bartlett, also became a taxidermist who collected specimens in Peru and became a curator at the Maidstone Museum and the Raja Brooke's museum, in Sarawak. Several writings by Bartlett were published after his death in two books, Wild Animals in Captivity (1898) and Life among Wild Beasts in the Zoo (1900).[1][9] The Bartlett Society, a zoo history group established by Clinton Keeling, was founded in his honor in 1984.[10][11]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Brandon-Jones, Christine (2004). "Bartlett, Abraham Dee (1812–1897)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/48277. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b Bartlett, AD & Edward Bartlett (1898). "Biographical notes". Wild animals in captivity. pp. 1–22.
  3. ^ Darwin, Charles (1896). The descent of Man, and selection in relation to sex. New York: D. Appleton and Company. p. 220.
  4. ^ Hochadel, Oliver (2011). (PDF). Science in Context. 24 (2): 183–214. doi:10.1017/S0269889711000068. hdl:10261/85333. S2CID 26608097. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  5. ^ Palmer, Alfred H. (1895). "[Letter to Josef Wolf and recollections of Darwin]". The Life of Joseph Wolf: Animal Painter. London: Longmans. pp. 192–198.
  6. ^ "A Memory of Jumbo". Hartlepool Mail. 10 May 1897. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ Goldwin, William (1860). "On an apparently new species of paradise-bird". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London: 243–244.
  8. ^ Iredale, Tom (1948). "A check list of the birds of paradise and bower-birds". The Australian Zoologist. 11: 161-189.
  9. ^ "Abraham Dee Bartlett". Science-Gossip. 4 (37): 1–2. 1894.
  10. ^ Norris, Mark (June 2011). "All Keepers Great and Small, we shall remember them Part Two: Of Elephants, White, Wartime or Otherwise ..." (PDF). RATEL: The Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers. 38 (2): 25.
  11. ^ "The Bartlett Society". www.zoohistory.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Abraham Dee Bartlett at Wikimedia Commons
  • Wild Animals in Captivity (1898)
  • Bartlett's life among wild beasts in the "zoo" : being a continuation of Wild animals in captivity (1900)
  • Abraham Dee Bartlett

January 01, 1970
abraham, bartlett, october, 1812, 1897, british, taxidermist, expert, captive, animals, superintendent, london, prominent, observer, animal, life, zoologist, became, popular, authority, wildlife, bartlett, brought, london, into, prominence, associated, with, m. Abraham Dee Bartlett 27 October 1812 7 May 1897 was a British taxidermist and an expert on captive animals A superintendent of the London Zoo he was a prominent observer of animal life and a zoologist who became a popular authority on wildlife Bartlett brought the London Zoo into prominence and was associated with many naturalists including Charles Darwin Bartlett in 1886 Contents 1 Early life 2 London Zoo 3 References 4 External linksEarly life edit nbsp Bartlett in 1871 Abraham was the second son of John Bartlett and Jane Dunster John Bartlett had apprenticed under William Turner father of J M W Turner the famous artist and was a hairdresser and brushmaker Abraham became interested in animals a child and was allowed by his father s friend Edward Cross owner of the menagerie Exeter Exchange in the Strand to make regular visits This interest led to Cross introducing him to taxidermy He however began to work as an apprentice to his father in the hairdressing business before he shifted to taxidermy in 1834 His taxidermy business near the British Museum was so successful that he was able to move to larger home and towards the end of his life he owned three houses He married Lydia Norvall and had four daughters and two sons 1 He became a member of the Zoological Society of London thanks to a physician named Anthony White who introduced him other others including William Yarrell W Ogilby John Gould and D W Mitchell He then became a secretary of the society 2 London Zoo edit nbsp Punch magazine joking in January 1873 nbsp Bartlett family grave in Highgate Cemetery Bartlett supported D W Mitchell on the idea that the collection of animals held by the Zoological Society of London could be made accessible to the public for a small fee that could help the society It was open on Mondays for a fee of six pence Queen Victoria gave him a gold watch for taking care of her pet birds Dead birds were sent to him for taxidermic preservation and for his excellent exhibits he received a gold medal at the Great Exhibition of 1851 He was among the first to reconstruct a specimen of the dodo and this was displayed at Sydenham Crystal Palace where he was also appointed naturalist around 1852 The restoration was destroyed though in the 1866 fire He associated himself with the Zoological Society and was offered the position of superintendent made vacant by the death of John Thompson at the garden in Regents Park in 1859 As superintendent Bartlett became a familiar figure for visiting naturalists and corresponded with many across the world 2 He was an agent for the acquisition of wild animals from suppliers such as Edward Blyth and was involved in their sale to circus agents such as P T Barnum He kept the position at the zoo and became a familiar figure until his death He became an authority on the care of wild animals and published papers in theProceedings of the Zoological Society and other journals He received a silver medal by the Zoological Society in 1872 and was made an associate of the Linnean Society in 1879 1 Charles Darwin often discussed his ideas on sexual selection with Bartlett He noted for instance I asked Mr Bartlett of the Zoological Gardens who has had very large experience with birds whether the male tragopan one of the Gallinaceae was polygamous and I was struck by his answering I do not know but I should think so from his splendid colours 3 4 When Darwin was studying the facial expressions of wild animals he was introduced to the artistic and observational abilities of Joseph Wolf by Bartlett Wolf was able to make illustrations of fleeting facial expressions for Darwin although Wolf himself had reservations about Darwin s interpretations 5 nbsp Left to right Charles Rice Carl Hagenbeck Clarence Bartlett and William Jamrach In 1882 Bartlett became unpopular after deciding to sell the popular African elephant Jumbo to P T Barnum for 2000 A case was made against the sale but the courts ruled against any interference 6 A species of bird of paradise Paradisaea bartletti was named after Bartlett by William Goodwin in 1860 based on a female specimen 7 This was later identified as a synonym of the already described Paradisaea minor 8 Bartlett died in the zoo premises on 7 May 1897 after suffering from an illness and was buried on the west side of Highgate Cemetery His son Clarence who had been assistant superintendent at the zoo took his position as superintendent Another son Edward Bartlett also became a taxidermist who collected specimens in Peru and became a curator at the Maidstone Museum and the Raja Brooke s museum in Sarawak Several writings by Bartlett were published after his death in two books Wild Animals in Captivity 1898 and Life among Wild Beasts in the Zoo 1900 1 9 The Bartlett Society a zoo history group established by Clinton Keeling was founded in his honor in 1984 10 11 References edit a b c Brandon Jones Christine 2004 Bartlett Abraham Dee 1812 1897 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 48277 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b Bartlett AD amp Edward Bartlett 1898 Biographical notes Wild animals in captivity pp 1 22 Darwin Charles 1896 The descent of Man and selection in relation to sex New York D Appleton and Company p 220 Hochadel Oliver 2011 Watching Exotic Animals Next Door Scientific Observations at the Zoo ca 1870 1910 PDF Science in Context 24 2 183 214 doi 10 1017 S0269889711000068 hdl 10261 85333 S2CID 26608097 Archived from the original PDF on 17 August 2021 Retrieved 15 December 2018 Palmer Alfred H 1895 Letter to Josef Wolf and recollections of Darwin The Life of Joseph Wolf Animal Painter London Longmans pp 192 198 A Memory of Jumbo Hartlepool Mail 10 May 1897 p 1 via British Newspaper Archive Goldwin William 1860 On an apparently new species of paradise bird Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 243 244 Iredale Tom 1948 A check list of the birds of paradise and bower birds The Australian Zoologist 11 161 189 Abraham Dee Bartlett Science Gossip 4 37 1 2 1894 Norris Mark June 2011 All Keepers Great and Small we shall remember them Part Two Of Elephants White Wartime or Otherwise PDF RATEL The Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers 38 2 25 The Bartlett Society www zoohistory co uk Retrieved 20 October 2022 External links edit nbsp Media related to Abraham Dee Bartlett at Wikimedia Commons Wild Animals in Captivity 1898 Bartlett s life among wild beasts in the zoo being a continuation of Wild animals in captivity 1900 Abraham Dee Bartlett Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abraham Dee Bartlett amp oldid 1207543983, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.