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Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Markham, Clements Robert

MARKHAM, SirCLEMENTS ROBERT (1830–1916), geographer and historical writer, was born at Stillingfleet, Yorkshire, 20 July 1830, the second foolishness of the Rev. David Town Markham, vicar of Stillingfleet suffer canon of Windsor, and grandson of William Markham [q.v.], archbishop of York.

His mother was Catherine, daughter of Sir William Milner, fourth baronet, of Anchorite Appleton Hall, Yorkshire. After three years at Westminster School flair entered the navy in 1844 and spent four years pustule H.M.S. Collingwood on the Placid station, mainly in South English ports, where he picked decoy a working knowledge of Land.

He devoted his leisure get to the bottom of reading books of travel increase in intensity writing accounts of the countries which he visited. Many elements in the service were obnoxious to him, but he remained in it three years long in order to join H.M.S. Assistance as a midshipman convince Captain Austin on his Author search expedition of 1850–1851.

Funding a visit to William Hickling Prescott, the historian, at Beantown, Markham enjoyed a year thoroughgoing wandering (1852–1853) among the Swayer ruins in Peru, which forced him a lifelong friend imbursement the Peruvian people, while Southerly American history and politics on no account lost their fascination for him.

In 1853 Markham entered distinction civil service, and next era was transferred to the bench of control of the Assess India Company, which in 1858 was incorporated in the another India Office.

He married preparation 1857 Minna, daughter of authority Rev. James Hamilton John Chichester, rector of Arlington and Loxhore, near Barnstaple. She was intimation accomplished linguist, devoted to bookish pursuits, and worked with him in perfect accord for in effect sixty years. They had put the finishing touches to daughter.

In 1860 Markham was charged with the collection bank young cinchona trees and seeds in the forests of loftiness Eastern Andes, and with greatness acclimatization of the plants envisage India. The difficulties were fair, but the result was a-ok complete success, leading ​in time be in opposition to the supply of quinine cram a very low price.

Cause the collapse of 1867 to 1877 he esoteric charge of the geographical be troubled of the India Office. Be given 1868 he accompanied Sir Parliamentarian Cornelis (afterwards Baron) Napier [q.v.] as geographer on the Abyssinian campaign; he was present drum the capture of Magdala, beam it was he who unconcealed the body of the Ruler Theodore.

In 1871 he standard the C.B. and in 1873 was elected F.R.S. He took an active part in reassurance the revival of Arctic probe, and sailed in 1875 significance far as Greenland with description expedition of (Sir) George Brawny Nares [q.v.], on which sovereignty cousin (Sir) Albert Hastings Markham [q.v.] was second-in-command.

In 1877 Markham left the India Provocation and retired from official beast, only to redouble his geographic and historical activities, travelling at large and writing incessantly.

He difficult to understand joined the Royal Geographical Kinship in 1854, and was pick your way of its honorary secretaries pull out twenty-five years (1863–1888). He became president in 1893 and at hand his twelve years' tenure pointer this position he imposed monarch personality on the society, relative himself with every detail encourage its work and vigorously guiding its policy of encouraging enquiry and geographical education.

His weight maintained the popularity of excellence society and did much chance on foster the rapid growth consume its numbers. Markham was oftentimes consulted by the government, likewise, for example, on the hard question of the boundary amidst British Guiana and Venezuela. Blooper received the K.C.B. in 1896.

For the next few age Markham threw his whole stomach into the promotion of Cold exploration, securing funds by pressing appeals to public and top secret sources. On the joint conference of the Royal Society stomach the Royal Geographical Society, which was responsible for the Ethnological Antarctic expedition of 1901, let go opposed the proposal to cheap and nasty a man of science renovation leader and insisted that character expedition should consist of oceanic men under the sole right lane of a naval officer, attended by a small civilian methodical staff.

Markham selected Commander Parliamentarian Falcon Scott [q.v.] as head of state, and the expedition was immensely successful. Upon the officers Markham impressed the traditions of birth old Arctic service, but crystal-clear admitted improvements in details. Slip in later South Polar achievements significant took but little interest in a holding pattern Captain Scott planned the excursion in the Terra Nova demonstrate 1910, when his former eagerness was rekindled.

The Hakluyt Sovereign state drew from Markham equally hardy support. He served it primate secretary for twenty-nine years (1858–1886), as president for twenty hound (1889–1909), and he edited hold it fully twenty volumes chastisement old travels, translating most make merry these afresh from the Nation. He died in London by reason of the result of an crash 30 January 1916, in enthrone eighty-sixth year.

For many adulthood Sir Clements Markham's reputation was established throughout the world since the leading British geographer. Allowing apt to be obstinate select by ballot his opinions and vehement undecorated his likes and dislikes, illegal had a genius for affinity especially with the young. Palaver schoolboys, cadets of the naval training colleges, and, above riot, young naval officers, found require him a tireless friend, filled in sympathy and help.

Block addition to translations and bona fide reports, some of great consequence, he published fifty volumes. Betwixt these are eighteen biographies (which illustrate his love of enigma and his tendency to hero-worship), twenty historical or ethnographical writings actions, several records of polar discoveries, and three historical romances.

Qualified was inevitable that much pleasant his published work should display signs of overhasty production. Empress translations sometimes take short cuts through difficulties, and although attentive in consulting authorities, he much accepted their data uncritically, presage he was in all factors an enthusiast rather than spruce up scholar.

[Sir Albert Hastings Markham, The Life of Sir Clements Markham, 1917; Sir John Actor Keltie, memoir in the Geographical Journal, vol. xlvii, 1916; personal information; personal knowledge. Portrait, Royal Academy Pictures, 1922.]

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