Frederick Du Cane Godman

Born at Park Hatch, Godalming, in 1834, Frederick Du Cane Godman was a keen student of natural history from his earliest days. At Cambridge he became an intimate friend of Alfred and Edward Newton and of Osbert Salvin, all enthusiastic students of bird Life. Alfred Newton was the leader of the little group which met in his rooms at Magdalene College to compare notes and discuss their collections of birds and eggs.

Though he was a cripple, Alfred Newton spent the funds he received from the Drury Travelling Fellowship on journeys to study birds in their native haunts, and Frederick Godman followed his example. One of the results of his travels was his Natural History of the Azores.

These were the days when the idea of evolution had fallen like a bombshell on all men's preconceived theories of natural life. Godman and his friend Osbert Salvin were enthusiastic followers of Darwin, and together they decided to produce a work which should review every form of life in a definite part of the world. They chose Central America, and this became the lifework of these two friends.

It was 36 years before the 62 volumes of this vast undertaking were completed. It ranged over an zoology from the minutest insect to the biggest forest beast. The two friends were editors, securing experts to write on their own branches of knowledge, and devoting themselves to the birds and butterflies.

For years collectors travelled through Central America, and Mr Godman acquired the finest private collection of natural history objects in England. As each group was perfected it was presented to South Kensington.

Mr Godman was a trustee of the British Museum until he died in 1919. Indeed, the Godman Exploration Fund was founded in memory of him to supply grants for collecting expeditions all over the world.

Within twelve years from its foundation these expeditions have added 3000 mammals to our national collection at South Kensington, about fifty of them new to science. This Godman Fund has also proved a nucleus for other bequests and gifts, so that the name of Frederick Du Cane Godman is for ever linked with that branch of knowledge to which he devoted his life.

 

 

 

 

 

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