GB 0096 MS 630 - Moorcroft, William

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 MS 630

Title

Moorcroft, William

Date(s)

  • 1822-1823 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 volume

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Moorcroft was born in Lancashire and educated in Liverpool for the medical profession. While he was a student he was assigned to examine a local outbreak of cattle disease, as a result of which he switched to veterinary science. After amassing a considerable fortune in London he lost his wealth through the filing of numerous bad patents and in 1808 he took a position as veterinary surgeon with the Bengal Army. During this time he also took the position of Superintendent of the East India Company's stud.

He travelled widely in central Asia and became the first British traveller to cross the Himalayas. Falling out of favour with the Bengal Army for spending too much time in the Himalayan region he undertook a journey for trade to Kabul. On returning from Kabul in 1823 Moorcroft died and was taken to Balkh where he was buried outside the city walls.

Archival history

GB 0096 MS 630 1822-1823 Collection (fonds) 1 volume Moorcroft , William , 1765-1825 , veterinary surgeon and traveller
Moorcroft was born in Lancashire and educated in Liverpool for the medical profession. While he was a student he was assigned to examine a local outbreak of cattle disease, as a result of which he switched to veterinary science. After amassing a considerable fortune in London he lost his wealth through the filing of numerous bad patents and in 1808 he took a position as veterinary surgeon with the Bengal Army. During this time he also took the position of Superintendent of the East India Company's stud.

He travelled widely in central Asia and became the first British traveller to cross the Himalayas. Falling out of favour with the Bengal Army for spending too much time in the Himalayan region he undertook a journey for trade to Kabul. On returning from Kabul in 1823 Moorcroft died and was taken to Balkh where he was buried outside the city walls.

A volume entitled Notes on subjects connected with agriculture, from W. Moorcroft, Kashmeer, 1823, addressed to the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture.

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English

The British Library Oriental and India Office Collections contain correspondence, journals and papers, 1820-1825 (MSS Eur A20-21, B50-51, C39-45, 68-69, E113, F35-41, G27-31); the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, holds correspondence with Lord Minto (Ref: MS 11319).

2000-02-22 Joseph Gelfer, 2000-05-22 Sarah Aitchison Agriculture India Kashmir Moorcroft , William , 1765-1825 , veterinary surgeon and traveller South Asia

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

A volume entitled Notes on subjects connected with agriculture, from W. Moorcroft, Kashmeer, 1823, addressed to the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

The British Library Oriental and India Office Collections contain correspondence, journals and papers, 1820-1825 (MSS Eur A20-21, B50-51, C39-45, 68-69, E113, F35-41, G27-31); the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, holds correspondence with Lord Minto (Ref: MS 11319).

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area