George Littledale

St George Littledale (c.1855-1921) was a charismatic 19th century English nobleman, explorer, mountaineer, cartographer and taxidermist. He was best known, however, for his mapping expeditions particularly in the Himalayas and became the first European to travel through many of the treacherous mountain passes of Tibet.

Marriage

St. George Littledale (c.1851-1921) married in 1876 Theresa Newcomen Julia Eveleigh Harris (1839-1928), daughter of John Harris (1782-1850) and Amelia Ryerse (1798-1882) of London, Ontario, Canada, where Theresa had been born at the family's seat of Eldon House. Theresa was the widow of William John Scott (1825-1875).

Explorations

In 1895, Littledale and his wife, his nephew Mr. W. A. Fletcher and a fox terrier named Tanny set out to cross Tibet heading for Lhasa from northern India. Fearing detection they travelled at night, but were stopped by 500 armed Tibetans only 49 miles from Lhasa. Neither a bribe or an insistence that Littledale's wife was Queen Victoria's sister would spare them and they were expelled from the country.

Littledale learnt topography at the Royal Geographical Society and mapped much of their journey, including making the first elevation of Ulugh Muztagh. A variety of Argali sheep is named after him, it is one of the largest and finest of argali sheep with massive, spiraling horns. The Littledales were accompanied on their expedition by Ghulam Rassul Galwan, one of the most famous porters of the era who also accompanyied Francis Younghusband through Chinese Turkestan, and Lord Dunmore through the Pamir Mountains.

Despite falling short of their destination, the Royal Geographical Society awarded Littledale a gold medal and his dog Tanny was made an honorary fellow and given with a silver collar. The Littledales expeditions are relatively unknown, partly because they never published any books although St George had a number of papers published at the RGS. Considering their low profile, Younghusband said that "every one of their journeys would now be considered an accomplishment of note".

Later life

In later life, Littledale and his family lived in Wick Hill House, a manor house in Berkshire. His taxidermic trophies were used to decorate his home and upon his death in 1921 were presented to the Natural History Museum [ [http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/library/library-archives/catalogue/DServe.exe?dsqServer=placid&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqSearch=(RefNo='DF%20ADM/1004/84')&PF=Yes] Natural History Museum Bequests: C St G R Littledale collection of big game trophies (Mammalia)] . George V was given his prized Asiatic Ibex.

ee also

*Heinrich Harrer
*History of Exploration in Tibet

ources

"Tibet: the Roof of the World" by Elizabeth B. Booz, Passport Books, 1986, ISBN 0844294551
"Through a Land of Extremes" by Elizabeth Clinch and Nick Clinch The History Press Ltd, 2008, ISBN-10: 0750947829
"The Eldon House Diaries: Five Women's Views of the 19th Century." Harris, Robin S. and Terry G. Eds. Toronto, Champlain Society / Government of Ontario, 1994.
"A Journey across Tibet, from North to South, and West to Ladak: Discussion" by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer, R. G. Woodthorpe, Henry Howorth, Delmar Morgan. The Geographical Journal, Vol. 7, No. 5 (May, 1896), pp. 478-483.
"Within Forty Miles of Leasa; Experiences of English Travelers in the Unexplored Wilds of Thibet." New York Times, January 11, 1896."Servant of Sahibs: A Book to Be Read Aloud" by Ghulam Rassul Galwan, Asian Educational Services, 2005. "Obituary: Mrs. St. George Littledale", The Geographical Journal, Vol. 73, No. 2 (Feb., 1929), p. 192"Obituary: St. George R. Littledale F. E. Y.", The Geographical Journal, Vol. 78, No. 1 (Jul., 1931), pp. 95-96

References

External links

* [http://www.londonmuseum.on.ca/EldonHouse/eldon.html Museum London, Ontario] Page on Eldon House
* [http://www.berkshirehistory.com/villages/warfield_ham.html Berkshire history page] Includes section on Wick Hill House, the Littledale's home
* [http://www.geocities.com/lis716harris/children.html#Theresa Harris family history entry on Teresa Littledale]