Joseph Morewood Dowsett (14 May 1864 - 2 April 1955) F.R.G.S., F.Z.S. was an English big-game hunter, naturalist and writer. From the 1930s, Dowsett took interest in animal welfare.

J. Morewood Dowsett
Born14 May 1864
Died2 April 1955 (1955-04-03) (aged 90)
Occupation(s)Naturalist, writer

Biography

edit

Dowsett was born in London. He contributed to The English Review, The Telegraph, The Morning Post and The Times.[1] In 1883, Dowsett joined the Civil Service in New Zealand but soon resigned and took up wild-game hunting.[2] Dowsett hunted big-game in Africa, Albania, Canada, Iceland and New Zealand. He described his experiences in his book Big Game and Big Life, published in 1925. A review in The Geographical Journal concluded that "the book is quite interesting, and in some parts distinctly amusing, though perhaps a little egoistical."[3]

In 1942, Dowsett authored The Romance of England's Forests a well-illustrated book dealing with forests of England through the ages.[4]

Animal welfare

edit

In his later years, Dowsett supported animal welfare. He became associated with the Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society and at a meeting in 1934, gave a speech opposing rodeo performances.[5]

In 1936, he authored Animal Life Yesterday and To-Day, which campaigned against cruelty to animals and vivisection.[6]

Selected publications

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Who Was Who Among English and European Authors, 1931-1949. (1978). Volume 1. Gale Research Company. p. 343. ISBN 978-0810304000
  2. ^ Who's Who Among Living Authors of Older Nations, Volume 1. (1928). Golden Syndicate Publishing Company. p. 136
  3. ^ a b A. S. (1926). "Reviewed Work: Big Game and Big Life by J. Morewood Dowsett". The Geographical Journal. 67 (6): 562–563. doi:10.2307/1782651. JSTOR 1782651.
  4. ^ a b "The Romance of England's Forests by J. Morewood Dowsett". Journal of the Royal African Society. 43 (170): 47. 1944.
  5. ^ The Anti-Vivisection and Humanitarian Review. Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society, 1935. p. 129, pp. 148-149
  6. ^ Animals. The Spectator. (October 30, 1936). p. 34
  7. ^ "Reviewed Work: Snake Life Simply Told. Second Edition by J. Morewood Dowsett". Current Science. 2 (7): 271–272. 1934.