Thomas Falkner (6 October 1707 – 30 January 1784) was an English Jesuit missionary, explorer and physician, active in the Patagonia region for nearly forty years. His primary work, The Description of Patagonia, was written towards the idea of English colonization (similar to Mungo Park and other explorers of his era), but it remains valuable as a record of early life, flora and fauna of the region.[1] He is credited with recording the first fossil in present-day Argentina.
He was the son of Thomas Falkner, a Manchester apothecary, and had Calvinist, maybe Scottish heritage.[2]
In poor health, he was advised to take a sea-voyage, and being acquainted with a ship chaplain on board the Assiento, a vessel trading with Guinea and carrying slaves to Buenos Aires, he accepted an invitation to accompany the vessel as surgeon. This was in or about 1731. On reaching Buenos Aires he was so ill that the captain was compelled to leave him there in the care of Father Mahoney, the superior of the Jesuit College, where he was nursed back to health. He then converted to Catholicism, joined the Jesuits and became a priest.[3][1]
In 1740 or soon after he was sent to assist Father Matthias Strobel in his mission to the northern Tehuelche people at Laguna de los Padres, 12 miles (19 km) west of the present day city of Mar del Plata,[4] the first permanent human settlement in the region.[5] For about the next forty years he was a missionary and explorer in the region, gathering material that would become The Description of Patagonia.[1]
Falkner returned to England, where, in 1771 or 1772, he joined the English province of the Society. He was appointed chaplain to Robert Berkeley of Spetchley. He then became chaplain to Mr. Berington of Winsley in Herefordshire, and afterwards to the Plowdens of Plowden Hall in Shropshire.[6]
Scientific discoveries
He is credited with recording the first fossil in present-day Argentina: In 1760 Falkner discovered the skeleton of a big armadillo on the banks of Carcarañá River, near the village of Santa Fe; many years later the fossil was identified as originating from a glyptodon.[7] Darwin mentions this fossil and "old Falkner" in his Beagle voyage, after he also discovered fossils in Patagonia.
Works
He wrote an account of his Patagonian experiences, which was published at Hereford in 1774 under the title A Description of Patagonia and the adjoining parts of South America, with a grammar and a short vocabulary, and some particulars relating to Falkland's Islands. The book as published was not his original work, but a compilation by William Combe, who used Falkner's papers. The book was translated into German, French, and Spanish. Another account of the Patagonians due to Father Falkner is found in the works of Thomas Pennant, who described his essay as "formed from the relation of Fr. Falkner, a Jesuit, who had resided among them thirty-eight years".[3]
After his death, the Spanish Jesuits who had known him in South America were anxious to obtain his unpublished works. They included treatises on the botanical and mineral products of America, and American distempers as cured by American drugs. It is stated by Fr. Caballero, S.J., that he had also edited Volumina duo de anatomia corporis humani.[3]
Lake Falkner in Argentina is named after him, as well as a street in the city of Mar del Plata.
^ abcF.E.T. (June 1938). "Reviewed Work: A Description of Patagonia and the Adjoining Parts of South America by Thomas Falkner, E. S. Neumann". Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia. 45 (2): 188–190. JSTOR 44209331.
^Anderson, Gerald H. (1999). Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 208. ISBN0802846807.
^ abcHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Thomas Falkner" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^Asúa, Miguel de (2014). Science in the Vanished Arcadia: Knowledge of Nature in the Jesuit Missions of Paraguay and Río de la Plata. BRILL. p. 154. ISBN978-90-04-25677-4.
^Chiozza, Elena; Figueira, Ricardo (1981). Atlas total de la República Argentina (in Spanish). Centro Editor de América Latina. p. 17. ISBN9789502510019.
^Scott, Geoffrey. "Falkner, Thomas". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9124. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^J. David Archibald (2017). Origins of Darwin's Evolution: Solving the Species Puzzle Through Time and Place. Columbia University Press. ISBN9780231545297.
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For those of a similar name see Thomas Falconer disambiguation Thomas Falkner 6 October 1707 30 January 1784 was an English Jesuit missionary explorer and physician active in the Patagonia region for nearly forty years His primary work The Description of Patagonia was written towards the idea of English colonization similar to Mungo Park and other explorers of his era but it remains valuable as a record of early life flora and fauna of the region 1 He is credited with recording the first fossil in present day Argentina Contents 1 Life 2 Scientific discoveries 3 Works 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 External linksLife EditHe was the son of Thomas Falkner a Manchester apothecary and had Calvinist maybe Scottish heritage 2 In poor health he was advised to take a sea voyage and being acquainted with a ship chaplain on board the Assiento a vessel trading with Guinea and carrying slaves to Buenos Aires he accepted an invitation to accompany the vessel as surgeon This was in or about 1731 On reaching Buenos Aires he was so ill that the captain was compelled to leave him there in the care of Father Mahoney the superior of the Jesuit College where he was nursed back to health He then converted to Catholicism joined the Jesuits and became a priest 3 1 In 1740 or soon after he was sent to assist Father Matthias Strobel in his mission to the northern Tehuelche people at Laguna de los Padres 12 miles 19 km west of the present day city of Mar del Plata 4 the first permanent human settlement in the region 5 For about the next forty years he was a missionary and explorer in the region gathering material that would become The Description of Patagonia 1 Falkner returned to England where in 1771 or 1772 he joined the English province of the Society He was appointed chaplain to Robert Berkeley of Spetchley He then became chaplain to Mr Berington of Winsley in Herefordshire and afterwards to the Plowdens of Plowden Hall in Shropshire 6 Scientific discoveries EditHe is credited with recording the first fossil in present day Argentina In 1760 Falkner discovered the skeleton of a big armadillo on the banks of Carcarana River near the village of Santa Fe many years later the fossil was identified as originating from a glyptodon 7 Darwin mentions this fossil and old Falkner in his Beagle voyage after he also discovered fossils in Patagonia Works EditHe wrote an account of his Patagonian experiences which was published at Hereford in 1774 under the title A Description of Patagonia and the adjoining parts of South America with a grammar and a short vocabulary and some particulars relating to Falkland s Islands The book as published was not his original work but a compilation by William Combe who used Falkner s papers The book was translated into German French and Spanish Another account of the Patagonians due to Father Falkner is found in the works of Thomas Pennant who described his essay as formed from the relation of Fr Falkner a Jesuit who had resided among them thirty eight years 3 After his death the Spanish Jesuits who had known him in South America were anxious to obtain his unpublished works They included treatises on the botanical and mineral products of America and American distempers as cured by American drugs It is stated by Fr Caballero S J that he had also edited Volumina duo de anatomia corporis humani 3 Lake Falkner in Argentina is named after him as well as a street in the city of Mar del Plata Bibliography EditStephen Leslie ed 1889 Falkner Thomas Dictionary of National Biography Vol 18 London Smith Elder amp Co Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Thomas Falkner Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Wilson J G Fiske J eds 1900 Falkner Thomas Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton References Edit a b c F E T June 1938 Reviewed Work A Description of Patagonia and the Adjoining Parts of South America by Thomas Falkner E S Neumann Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia 45 2 188 190 JSTOR 44209331 Anderson Gerald H 1999 Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions Wm B Eerdmans Publishing p 208 ISBN 0802846807 a b c Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Thomas Falkner Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Asua Miguel de 2014 Science in the Vanished Arcadia Knowledge of Nature in the Jesuit Missions of Paraguay and Rio de la Plata BRILL p 154 ISBN 978 90 04 25677 4 Chiozza Elena Figueira Ricardo 1981 Atlas total de la Republica Argentina in Spanish Centro Editor de America Latina p 17 ISBN 9789502510019 Scott Geoffrey Falkner Thomas Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 9124 Subscription or UK public library membership required J David Archibald 2017 Origins of Darwin s Evolution Solving the Species Puzzle Through Time and Place Columbia University Press ISBN 9780231545297 External links EditWorks by Thomas Falkner at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Thomas Falkner at Internet Archive 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