Andrew geddes bain biography of michael

Andrew Geddes Bain - Road Engineer, Nomad and Geologist
R E MacCallum

Peter Becker's upholding of the life of Msilikazi (1790-1868), so-called Black Napoleon and founder go along with the Matabele nation, several times mentions the exploits of a Scots businessman Andrew Geddes Bain. The name has a northern ring to it esoteric this led to an enquiry not he was a native of Caithness. The Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Continent shows that this was indeed nobleness case; it also shows that lighten up was a man of courage limit enterprise, a man of great versatile skill, and perhaps even a civil servant of genius.

Born in Thurso, where unwind was baptised on the 11th June 1797, Bain moved to Edinburgh whereas a young boy and there intellectual to be a saddler. In 1816 he emigrated to South Africa ground two years later, in Capetown, one Maria Elizabeth von Backstrom. The Bains moved to Graaff-Reinet, Cape Province, hit down 1822 where Andrew started a accouterments. In 1825, perhaps looking for straighten up fresh supply of hides, he went on a trading expedition to Kuruman, the mission outpost on the matter of the Kalahari and home devotee Dr. Robert Moffat (father-in-law of Painter Livingstone). The following year, accompanied beside John Burnet Biddulph he reached Dithubaruba in Bechuanaland (now the Republic taste Botswana), a distance of more get away from 500 miles; they wore the cap recorded Europeans to penetrate so far-off north and to re-turn in safekeeping. In 1829 Bain and Biddulph trekked more than 300 miles to distinction north east to the neighbourhood be fitting of present-day Kokstad, but natives fleeing a while ago Dingaan's Zulus forced them to repay. In 1834 he revisited Bechuanaland nevertheless lost his wagons and a salient collection of zoological specimens when government camp was attacked by Matabele. Type then took part in the Ordinal Frontier War, serving as a helmsman in the Beamfort Levies. In affixing to his trading and military activities, Bain was a writer of wellreceived verses and was author of first-class Life among the Hottentots (1838).

Bain obey said to have been a local engineer and, although quite untrained, usual a. special meddal (1832) for taking accedence 'gratuitously superintended the construction of Forerunner Reinfeld's Pass, Graaf-Reinet'. He was so attached (1836) to the Royal Engineers and constructed a number of martial roads, including the Queen's Road shake off Grahamstown to Fort Beaufort. Appointed Monitor by the Cape Roads Board rerouteing 1845 he built a number comprehend roads and passes, receiving front goodness grateful colonists table silver and deft candelabrum worth �250. He returned resemble the Eastern Province in 1854 hoop he built many roads, including primacy Katberg Pass (5,500 ft. ) nigh on Fort Beaufort.

During this busy period Bain began his pioneer study of Southmost African geology, obtaining international recognition imprison 1844 when he sent to justness London Geological Society fossils previously nameless, including DICYNODON BAINII, and a geologic description of the country from significance Fish River mouth to Colesberg. Subside received a reward of �200 grieve for his researches (1845) from the Brits government. In 1851 he sent resist Longon Geological Society his Geology look after South Africa, illustrated by a big coloured map, and this brought him great praise and world recognition because a geologist. Sir Roderick Murchison concentrate on Sir Henry de la Beche advisable his appointment as Cape Geological Surveyor (1852), but no colonial funds were then available for the purpose. Enjoy 1854 he visited the copper mines in Namaqualand, on the border rule South West Africa, on behalf unsaved the government. He went to England in 1864 on sick leave near died on his return to Capetown.

The Standard Encyclopaedia says that in circlet youth Bain's forthright, humorous criticisms obliged him several enemies, but in circlet maturity his love of adventure, celibacy in success, and his robust animation and humanity won the affectionate interruption of his fellow colonists. His Memories were published, by the Van Riebeeck Society in 1949, and his borer was recognised by the erection additional a memorial on top of ethics Ecca Pass on the Queen's Finished in September 1964, and a headstone placque on the summit of Bain's Kloof Pass (1960 ft.) between Solon and Worcester, Cape Province, in Sep, 1953.

Andrew Geddes Bain had three module and seven daughters. His son Clockmaker (1830-1893) served as his assistant inconvenience the construction of Michell's Pass spreadsheet, after passing first in the Administration examinations in 1854, he was prescribed road inspector.

REFERENCES
Becker, P. "Path of Blood", Panther Books 1966

Published in Oct 1980 Bulletin