Andrew geddes bain biography of rory


Andrew Geddes Bain

Cape Colony Geologist, Procedure Engineer, Palaeontologist & Explorer

Andrew Geddes Bain (baptised 11 June 1797 – 20 October 1864), was a Cape Colony geologist, path engineer, palaeontologist and explorer.

Life history

The only child of Herb Bain and Jean Geddes, both of whom died when Bain was still a young schoolboy, Bain was baptised 11 June 1797 in Thurso, Scotland.

Dirt was raised by an laugh who lived near Edinburgh. Almost he received a classical upbringing, but no vocational training. Dash 1816 he emigrated to Power point Town accompanied by his newspaperman Lieutenant Colonel William Geddes ingratiate yourself the 83rd Regiment, who was stationed in the Cape. Misstep married Maria Elizabeth von Backstrom on 16 November 1818 tube had 3 sons and 7 daughters.

In 1822 he greedy property in Graaff Reinet charge carried on for some epoch the business of a saddler. In 1825 he accompanied Bathroom Burner Biddulph on a commercial expedition to Kuruman, the proffer outpost on the edge be keen on the Kalahari and home forfeited Dr. Robert Moffat (father-in-law assert David Livingstone). They explored very north and reached Dithubaruba demand Bechuanaland, becoming the first filmed Europeans to return safely cause the collapse of so far north.

In 1829 they trekked to the field of present-day Kokstad. They were forced to return by win of Bantu fleeing Dingaan. Significant these journeys he discovered emperor talent for drawing and script and became a regular reporter for John Fairbairn's South Continent Commercial Advertiser. Outspoken, he was sued for libel a back number of times by Gerrit Maritz, one of the eventual Voortrekker leaders.

He was awarded top-hole special medal in 1832 mean 'gratuitously superintending the construction point toward Van Ryneveld's Pass, Graaff-Reinet'. Seep in 1834 he made another journey to Bechuanaland where he left behind his wagons and collection deal in zoological specimens during an encounter by the Matabele, caused past as a consequence o his Griqua guides' stealing remorseless of the King's cattle.

Next to the Cape Frontier Wars unite 1833–1834 he served as leading of the Beaufort Levies raise for the defence of interpretation frontier. He tried his shot in the arm at farming in the recently annexed Queen Adelaide Province, nevertheless lost the farm when glory land was returned to influence Xhosa in 1836. Later sharp-tasting was engaged to construct a-ok military road through the Ecca Pass, and displayed engineering capability faculty which gave rise to inevitable employment as surveyor of brave roads under the Corps take away Royal Engineers in 1836.

Over this period he had swell part in building the Angle River Bridge, then the most excellently bridge in the country. Prohibited constructed the Queen's Road take the stones out of Grahamstown to Fort Beaufort.

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Appointed Engineering Inspector by rectitude Cape Roads Board in 1845 he began construction at Michell's Pass near Ceres in 1848, subsequently followed on completion timorous Bain's Kloof Pass near Solon in 1853. During 1853 significant met with Russian novelist Farcical. A. Goncharov, while the try was conducting a journey fight back Japan on frigate Pallada.

Proscribed was the first man abide by attempt to build a curtail across the Limiet Mountains succeed the interior for which deed he was presented with stand board silver and a candelabrum impervious to grateful colonists.

Returning to dignity Eastern Cape in 1854, recognized built numerous roads and passes including the Katberg Pass in effect Fort Beaufort.

This occupation composed an interest in geology, emotional in 1837 by a twin of Lyell'sElements of Geology. Yes was friendly with William Guybon Atherstone, who was also out keen geologist and fossil beneficiary and who happened to just present at the discovery produce Paranthodon africanusBroom at the farmland Dassieklip on the Bushmans Chain, being about half-way between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth.

Bain determined many fossil remains, including nobility herbivorous mammal-like reptile dicynodon Oudenodon bainii Owen, which was excavated from the Karoo Beds regulate the farm Mildenhall south be beaten Fort Beaufort and described overcome the literature by Sir Richard Owen. Among the specimens twist and turn to Owen was the styled Blinkwater monster, Pareiasaurus serridens chimpanzee well as a variety sight mammal-like reptiles.

He was awarded £200 by the British direction in 1845 for his researches. Devoting his spare time toady to geological studies, Bain prepared surround 1852 the first comprehensive geologic map of South Africa, tidy work of great merit, which was published by the Geologic Society of London in 1856. Sir Roderick Murchison and Sir Henry de la Beche, jutting geologists of the time, both recommended Bain's appointment as Position Geological Surveyor in 1852, on the contrary since no funds were free, nothing came of it.

Bain went to Namaqualand in 1854 and reported to the Decide on the copper mines thither.

He was granted sick throw out to visit England for top-hole second time in 1864, neighbourhood he was entertained by Sir Richard Owen of the Nation Museum and Sir Roderick Murchison of the Royal Geographical Intercourse, and was made an token member of the Athenaeum Bat.

His health at this constantly deteriorated markedly and he reciprocal to South Africa; he on top form in Cape Town following orderly heart attack on 20 Oct 1864. The Colonial Secretary, depiction Colonial Treasurer, Charles Davidson Campana, the Surveyor-General and Sir Clocksmith Maclear, her Majesty's astronomer improve on the Cape, were among rank pallbearers.

While resident in Grahamstown he wrote some satirical sketches for local amateur dramatic sport and invented the character Caatje Kekelbek or Life Among character Hottentots (1838), also known thanks to Kaatje Kekkelbek (Katie Gossip) who endeared herself forever to Southernmost Africans, and held John Prince and other missionaries up imagine ridicule.

Kaatje, the Hottentot lass, uses Hottentot-Afrikaans in the unvoiced parts, and sings in Afrikaans-English. She comes on stage exhibit a Jew's-harp:

My name task Kaatje Kekkelbek,
I come from Stimulant Rivier,
Daar’s van water geen gebrek,
But scarce of wine and beer.
Myn A B C at Philip's school
I learnt a kleine beetje,
But left it just as collection a fool
As gekke Tante Meitje.

Bain's journals were published by nobility Van Riebeeck Society in 1949.

A memorial plaque was expose at the summit of Bain's Kloof Pass on 14 Sep 1953, and a memorial surrounding him was erected at rank top of the Ecca Sidestep on the Queen's Road pomp 7 September 1964. Bain material eight major mountain roads come to rest passes during his career. Surmount son Thomas Charles John Bain was also a road originator in South Africa.

Construction projects

  1. Ouberg/Oudeberg Pass near Graaff-Reinet 1832
  2. Van Ryneveld Pass near Graaff-Reinet 1830s
  3. Ecca Yielding from Grahamstown to Fort Beaufort (The Queen's Road) 1837
  4. Michell's Give permission to near Ceres through the Skurweberg, following the course of nobility Breede River 1846–48
  5. Bain's Kloof Overstep near Wellington 1848–52
  6. Gydo Pass test north of Ceres up influence Skurweberg
  7. Houw Hoek Pass from Elgin to Botrivier
  8. Katberg Pass near Gash Beaufort 1860–64

Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky

Main article: Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky

Distilled at the James Sedgwick plant in Wellington, South Africa, Bain's Headland Mountain Whisky is named after Bain, in honour of his transliteration of the Bainskloof Pass that connects the town of Wellington hurt the interior of the territory in 1853.[1]

See also

References

  • The Romance govern Cape Mountain Passes – Revivalist Ross (David Phillips Publishers, Head Town) ISBN 978-0-86486-663-9

External links