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W. Scoresby Routledge

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W. Scoresby Routledge Famous memorial

Birth
Australia
Death
31 Jul 1939 (aged 79–80)
London, City of London, Greater London, England
Burial
Putney Vale, London Borough of Wandsworth, Greater London, England Add to Map
Plot
Section M, Grave 425
Memorial ID
View Source
Anglo-Australian explorer. William Scoresby Routledge, who was always known by his middle name, was born in Melbourne, although both his parents, William Routledge and Anne Sophia Twycross, were English. They went on to have three daughters, but no more sons; and, in about 1865, they sailed back to England, to live firstly at Reading, then in Eastbourne. Scoresby was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and at University College Hospital in London, although he left the latter before taking his medical degree. In 1900, he left England and, according to his entry in Who's Who, "lived with the Micmacs in Central Newfoundland to learn hunting and woodcraft, and later with the Akikuyu of British East Africa (now Kenya) while in their primitive condition." On his return to England, he married Katherine Maria Pease (q.v.). Four months after they were married, they sailed to Mombasa and spent two years in East Africa, collecting tribal artefacts. In 1912, the couple built and equipped a ninety-foot schooner which they named Mana (the word is Polynesian, and has been translated as "spiritual power") on which, the following year, they sailed from Southampton to Easter Island, via the Straits of Magellan, in order to make the first archaeological survey of that island. For this voyage of 100,000 miles, made under sail only, Routledge was awarded the Challenge Cup of the Royal Cruising Club, the first time such an award had been made since 1876. The couple returned to England in 1916, but were back in the Pacific in 1920, to survey the Austral and Gambler Islands. After Katherine's illness and death, Routledge moved to Tjiklos in Cyprus, but he died in the offices of a manufacturing company in Paddington whilst discussing business. His will specified that his heirs would be disinherited if he were buried in consecrated ground, or with any religious ceremony. Consequently, his grave is in an unconsecrated part of the cemetery. In order to find it, begin at the chapel and crematorium, in the Eastern part of the cemetery, then walk South. The road then turns West and becomes known as Alexander Way. On the left hand side (South), you will see the marble angel to Louise Harvey. A few yards further on, again on the left, is the grave of Walter Viney. Routledge is buried opposite him on the right (North) side of the road, three rows back from the road. The inscription on his grave is taken from the Fourth History of Tacitus, Verse 64. It may be translated as: "Like light and day to all men, thus nature opens all lands to brave men."
Anglo-Australian explorer. William Scoresby Routledge, who was always known by his middle name, was born in Melbourne, although both his parents, William Routledge and Anne Sophia Twycross, were English. They went on to have three daughters, but no more sons; and, in about 1865, they sailed back to England, to live firstly at Reading, then in Eastbourne. Scoresby was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and at University College Hospital in London, although he left the latter before taking his medical degree. In 1900, he left England and, according to his entry in Who's Who, "lived with the Micmacs in Central Newfoundland to learn hunting and woodcraft, and later with the Akikuyu of British East Africa (now Kenya) while in their primitive condition." On his return to England, he married Katherine Maria Pease (q.v.). Four months after they were married, they sailed to Mombasa and spent two years in East Africa, collecting tribal artefacts. In 1912, the couple built and equipped a ninety-foot schooner which they named Mana (the word is Polynesian, and has been translated as "spiritual power") on which, the following year, they sailed from Southampton to Easter Island, via the Straits of Magellan, in order to make the first archaeological survey of that island. For this voyage of 100,000 miles, made under sail only, Routledge was awarded the Challenge Cup of the Royal Cruising Club, the first time such an award had been made since 1876. The couple returned to England in 1916, but were back in the Pacific in 1920, to survey the Austral and Gambler Islands. After Katherine's illness and death, Routledge moved to Tjiklos in Cyprus, but he died in the offices of a manufacturing company in Paddington whilst discussing business. His will specified that his heirs would be disinherited if he were buried in consecrated ground, or with any religious ceremony. Consequently, his grave is in an unconsecrated part of the cemetery. In order to find it, begin at the chapel and crematorium, in the Eastern part of the cemetery, then walk South. The road then turns West and becomes known as Alexander Way. On the left hand side (South), you will see the marble angel to Louise Harvey. A few yards further on, again on the left, is the grave of Walter Viney. Routledge is buried opposite him on the right (North) side of the road, three rows back from the road. The inscription on his grave is taken from the Fourth History of Tacitus, Verse 64. It may be translated as: "Like light and day to all men, thus nature opens all lands to brave men."

Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Iain MacFarlaine
  • Added: May 19, 2004
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8799017/w_scoresby-routledge: accessed ), memorial page for W. Scoresby Routledge (1859–31 Jul 1939), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8799017, citing Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium, Putney Vale, London Borough of Wandsworth, Greater London, England; Maintained by Find a Grave.