Description
Archibald Menzies (1754-1842) is recognized as an accomplished botanist but that is only a part of his story. In this compelling new biography, the author reveals that Archibald Menzies was a remarkable product of the Scottish Enlightenment: a boy raised in the shadows of ancient Neolithic standing stones who was sponsored by his clan chief to study in Edinburgh and through talent, curiosity, perseverance, and circumstance became one of the top medical doctors and social raconteurs of Victorian London.
Readers learn of Archibald's experience as a Royal Navy surgeon in the epic Caribbean Battle of The Saintes, his encounters with the Indigenous people of Pacific Northwest Coast and the islands of Hawaii, his near court-martial by Captain Vancouver, his life-threatening and little-known experiments in the nascent field of virology, and his post-navy life in London. The result of this work is not just a full accounting of Archibald's career but which also provides insights into his character and personality. His attitude toward issues such as slavery, human rights, religion, and the opportunities and dangers of European contact with Indigenous peoples are explored and show a man of intelligence, compassion, and wisdom.
Author: Graeme Menzies
Publisher: Whittles
Published: 05/01/2025
Pages: 164
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.88lbs
Size: 9.44h x 7.09w x 0.37d
ISBN13: 9781849955911
ISBN10: 1849955913
BISAC Categories:
- Biography & Autobiography | Medical (Incl. Patients)
- Biography & Autobiography | Adventurers & Explorers
- History | Modern | 19th Century
About the Author
Graeme Menzies is an international marketing and communications professional and is a writer, resarcher and story-teller. Hometown: Vancouver