The Amazing World of James Hector: Explorer, Doctor, Geologist, Botanist, Natural Historian, and One of New Zealand's Most Remarkable Figures

by Simon Nathan (Editor), Mary Varnham (Editor), Hamish Campbell (Introduction)

Within seven-and-a-half years of his arrival in New Zealand at the age of 28, James Hector had founded and was in charge of all the country’s major scientific institutions. Today these institutions—under their modern names GNS Science, the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Royal Society of New Zealand—still form the scientific backbone of New Zealand. The first biography of this pioneer, this compelling celebration shows Hector as an inspired scientist who researched and wrote on a variety of topics—ranging from the geology of coal fields to the fossil skeletons of whales—an avid botanist whose name is borne by 13 plant species, and a geologist who produced maps of enduring quality. His extraordinary life and work is vividly celebrated in this anthology of essays from New Zealand’s foremost scientists and his own descendents.

186 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Shaun Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Hector so dominated New Zealand science in the last half of the nineteenth century, that it’s a wonder he isn’t a household name. He excelled as an explorer, surveyor, geologist, natural historian and botanist, but also played important roles establishing the New Zealand Geological Survey, the Meteorological Department, the New Zealand University, the New Zealand Institute, and the Colonial Museum.

Perhaps his greatest gift, however, was as an administrator and organiser – despite almost indecipherable handwriting. He seemed to attract loyalty in his staff, was judicious with funding, and wrote a tremendous number of scientific papers – all suggesting the Protestant work ethic of his Scottish origins. As a young man, after graduating from Edinburgh University as a doctor, Hector participated in an extraordinary scientific exploration (The Palliser Expedition) of Western Canada in the late 1850s. He discovered a route through the Rockies, Kicking Horse Pass, that very nearly spelt his untimely demise. While trying to secure a horse struggling in a stream eddy, he received such a resounding kick that he fell unconscious. His companions were about to place him in a shallow grave when he revived. After returning to Britain, the well-regarded Hector accepted a position as Otago Provincial Geologist.

Soon after arriving in Otago during 1862, the energetic Hector set off exploring and surveying the mountainous west. In 1863 he reached the col now named after him at the head of the Matukituki, and after trudging down the Arawhata River, almost reached the sea. Later that year, he found a passage through the Southern Alps from Martins Bay, up the Hollyford Valley, over Key Summit and into the Greenstone Valley, which earned him a hero’s welcome back in Dunedin.

Hector’s Canadian and New Zealand exploration are just two chapters in this small but perfectly executed book. Some of New Zealand’s best-known historians and scientists, along with descendants of Hector, gathered in 2007 to commemorate the centenary of his death. The Amazing World of James Hector was the resulting series of essays about his life.

The well-edited volume manages to create a highly readable text despite the number of authors, with historic photographs, line drawings and other illustrations augmenting the essays. As the book clearly demonstrates, Hector deserves greater recognition. Happily, co-editor Simon Nathan is working on a full biography of James Hector.

[J.Aleksandr Wootton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough and enlightening festschrift of a fascinating historical figure, who seemed to be everywhere and involved in everything pertaining to the burgeoning scientific research institutions of early New Zealand. One essayist acknowledges that Hector benefited from being, in many ways, a "lucky first", but at the same time, his legacy and achievements really were built on his capacities as a scientist and especially as an administrator, for which he seemed to have a particular knack. He really was at the back of almost everything, as this well-conceived and well-executed collection of essays ably demonstrates.

[Carol Griffiths · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good series of essays about James Hector and his importance in the early days of science in New Zealand.