William Alexander Forbes
Encyclopedia
William Alexander Forbes (25 June 1855–14 January 1883) was an English zoologist.
Forbes studied natural sciences at St John's College, Cambridge
. In 1879 he was appointed prosector to the Zoological Society of London
on the death of the previous incumbent, Alfred Henry Garrod
, who was Forbes's friend and whose literary executor Forbes became. Forbes lectured on comparative anatomy at Charing Cross Hospital Medical School. As an anatomist, he wrote valuable papers on the muscular structure and voice organs of birds.
In 1880 Forbes visited the forests of Pernambuco
, Brazil, and published an account of his trip in The Ibis
in 1881. In 1882 he travelled to west Africa to study the native fauna, starting from the mouth of the Niger
delta. He was taken ill shortly after Christmas and died in Shonga.
In 8 February 1878, Forbes was elected Secretary
of the Cambridge Natural History Society. He also edited the book compiling the late Alfred Henry Garrod's scientific papers; the book was published in 1881 along with a memoir of Garrod written by Forbes.
Forbes is commemorated in the names of the Forbes's Blackbird
Curaeus forbesi, White-collared Kite
Leptodon forbesi and the Forbes's Plover
Charadrius forbesi.
Forbes studied natural sciences at St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. In 1879 he was appointed prosector to the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
on the death of the previous incumbent, Alfred Henry Garrod
Alfred Henry Garrod
Alfred Henry Garrod FRS was an English vertebrate zoologist.Garrod was born in London, the eldest son of Sir Alfred Baring Garrod , a physician at King's College Hospital, who discovered the abnormal uric acid metabolism associated with gout...
, who was Forbes's friend and whose literary executor Forbes became. Forbes lectured on comparative anatomy at Charing Cross Hospital Medical School. As an anatomist, he wrote valuable papers on the muscular structure and voice organs of birds.
In 1880 Forbes visited the forests of Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
, Brazil, and published an account of his trip in The Ibis
Ibis (journal)
Ibis, subtitled the International Journal of Avian Science, is the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the British Ornithologists' Union. Topics covered include ecology, conservation, behaviour, palaeontology, and taxonomy of birds. The editor-in-chief is Paul F. Donald. The journal is published by...
in 1881. In 1882 he travelled to west Africa to study the native fauna, starting from the mouth of the Niger
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
delta. He was taken ill shortly after Christmas and died in Shonga.
In 8 February 1878, Forbes was elected Secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of the Cambridge Natural History Society. He also edited the book compiling the late Alfred Henry Garrod's scientific papers; the book was published in 1881 along with a memoir of Garrod written by Forbes.
Forbes is commemorated in the names of the Forbes's Blackbird
Forbes's Blackbird
The Forbes's Blackbird is a species of bird in the Icteridae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and plantations .It is threatened by habitat loss.This species...
Curaeus forbesi, White-collared Kite
White-collared Kite
The White-collared Kite, Leptodon forbesi, is a South American raptor. It breeds in north eastern Brazil.The White-collared Kite is 50 cm in length. The adult has a grey head with white hindneck, black upperparts, white underparts, and a grey tail with a very broad, black subterminal band and...
Leptodon forbesi and the Forbes's Plover
Forbes's Plover
The Forbes’s Plover or Forbes’s Banded Plover, Charadrius forbesi, is a small wader. This plover is resident in much of west Africa, mainly on inland rivers, pools and lakes. Its nest is a scrape lined with small pebbles in rocky uplands. After breeding in the wet season, this bird moves to open...
Charadrius forbesi.