GB 0402 RHS - SCHOMBURGK, Sir Robert Hermann (1804-1865)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0402 RHS

Title

SCHOMBURGK, Sir Robert Hermann (1804-1865)

Date(s)

  • 1832-1858 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

4 boxes and 1 file

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born in Freiburg in Saxony, 1804; educated in Germany; entered business with his uncle and in 1826 went to the USA; West Indies, 1830 and surveyed, at his own cost, the littoral of Anegada, one of the Virgin Islands, 1831; explored the rivers Essequibo (the sources of which he was the first European to reach), Corentyn, and Berbice, and investigated in detail the capabilities of the colony of British Guiana under the direction of the Royal Geographical Society, 1835-1839; commissioner for surveying and marking out the boundaries of British Guiana, 1840-1844; Director of the Barbados General Railway Company; gazetted British consul in Santo Domingo, 1848; made a plenipotentiary to conclude a treaty of amity and commerce between Great Britain and the Dominican Republic,1849; British consul at Bangkok, Siam, 1857; undertook an important journey from Bangkok to Chiengmai, the capital of the tributary Kingdom of Laos, and then across the mountains to Moulmein on the Gulf of Martaban, 1859-1860; retired from the public service, 1864; died, 1865.

Archival history

GB 0402 RHS 1832-1858 Collection level 4 boxes and 1 file Schomburgk , Sir , Robert Hermann , 1804-1865 , Knight , botanist

Born in Freiburg in Saxony, 1804; educated in Germany; entered business with his uncle and in 1826 went to the USA; West Indies, 1830 and surveyed, at his own cost, the littoral of Anegada, one of the Virgin Islands, 1831; explored the rivers Essequibo (the sources of which he was the first European to reach), Corentyn, and Berbice, and investigated in detail the capabilities of the colony of British Guiana under the direction of the Royal Geographical Society, 1835-1839; commissioner for surveying and marking out the boundaries of British Guiana, 1840-1844; Director of the Barbados General Railway Company; gazetted British consul in Santo Domingo, 1848; made a plenipotentiary to conclude a treaty of amity and commerce between Great Britain and the Dominican Republic,1849; British consul at Bangkok, Siam, 1857; undertook an important journey from Bangkok to Chiengmai, the capital of the tributary Kingdom of Laos, and then across the mountains to Moulmein on the Gulf of Martaban, 1859-1860; retired from the public service, 1864; died, 1865.

Papers of Sir Robert Herman Schomburgk, 1832-1858, comprising letters, observations, journals of travel in South and Central America and South East Asia and papers relating to expeditions to Guyana, 1836-1838.

Schomburgk's journals including remarks to accompany a map the rivers Orinoco, Essequibo and Branco, South America, 1833; journal in Central America, notably on Anegada and Virgin Gorda, 1833; journal in Central America, 1834; journal in Central America, 1853 and journal in South East Asia, notably Siam and the voyage from Bangkok to Xieng mai and Maulmain, 1860.

Papers relating to expeditions to Guyana including reports on the first expedition into the interior of Guyana, 1836, and of an excursion to the Post at the mouth of the Cayuni with accompanying watercolour of the Post at Cayuni; report, diary and notes on the second expedition into Guyana, 1837 and account of expenses for the first and second expeditions and reports on third expedition into Guyana, 1837-1838, with accompanying watercolour.

Observation files including astronomical and meteorological observations, trigonometrical observations at Annay, notes on heights at which trees will grow and on the position of San Joachim, Guyana, 1835-1837.

Pencil sketches including of Indian ornaments found at Samana, of Haitians and ink and wash sketch of the town and harbour, St. Thomas, 1833; unpublished article 'On the originating causes and further development of hurricanes in the West Indies', 1833 and official and personal letters to Schomburgk, many written to him in his capacity as Secretary of the Society, 1892-1915, and letters from Sir John Scott Keltie.

Accessible via The Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without the permission of the IBG-RGS Archivist.

English

Card index available in the Foyle Reading Room.

Prepared by Archives volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Oxford DNB.

ISAD(G) ed. 2, name authority NRA.

29 March 2001; Jul 2008. Schomburgk , Sir , Robert Hermann , 1804-1865 , Knight , botanist Travel Keltie , Sir , John Scott , 1840-1927 , Knight , Scottish geographer Travel abroad Geographical exploration Geography Geographical data Visual materials Illustrations Sketches Thailand South East Asia Guyana South America Central America

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Sir Robert Herman Schomburgk, 1832-1858, comprising letters, observations, journals of travel in South and Central America and South East Asia and papers relating to expeditions to Guyana, 1836-1838.

Schomburgk's journals including remarks to accompany a map the rivers Orinoco, Essequibo and Branco, South America, 1833; journal in Central America, notably on Anegada and Virgin Gorda, 1833; journal in Central America, 1834; journal in Central America, 1853 and journal in South East Asia, notably Siam and the voyage from Bangkok to Xieng mai and Maulmain, 1860.

Papers relating to expeditions to Guyana including reports on the first expedition into the interior of Guyana, 1836, and of an excursion to the Post at the mouth of the Cayuni with accompanying watercolour of the Post at Cayuni; report, diary and notes on the second expedition into Guyana, 1837 and account of expenses for the first and second expeditions and reports on third expedition into Guyana, 1837-1838, with accompanying watercolour.

Observation files including astronomical and meteorological observations, trigonometrical observations at Annay, notes on heights at which trees will grow and on the position of San Joachim, Guyana, 1835-1837.

Pencil sketches including of Indian ornaments found at Samana, of Haitians and ink and wash sketch of the town and harbour, St. Thomas, 1833; unpublished article 'On the originating causes and further development of hurricanes in the West Indies', 1833 and official and personal letters to Schomburgk, many written to him in his capacity as Secretary of the Society, 1892-1915, and letters from Sir John Scott Keltie.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Accessible via The Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Conditions governing reproduction

Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without the permission of the IBG-RGS Archivist.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Card index available in the Foyle Reading Room.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Royal Geographical Society

Rules and/or conventions used

ISAD(G) ed. 2, name authority NRA.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area