Robert FitzRoy ( 1805 - 1865 )

Birth: Ampton Hall, Suffolk, England (05 July 1805) Death: Upper Norwood, London (30 April 1865) Research Field: Hydrography, meteorology Education: Rottingdean; Harrow School (1817-1818); Royal Naval College, Portsmouth - winner of mathematical prize (1819) Career: Volunteer, later midshipman, 'Owen Glendower'; served on the 'Hind' and 'Cambrian' in the Mediterranean; served on the 'Seringapatam' on the English Channel; Lieutenants examination - first out of 27 candidates; served on the 'Thetis' as lieutenant, flag-lieutenant, 'Ganges'; commanded the 'Beagle' charting the coasts of southern South America under Captain Philip Parker King - spent 33 days in an open whaleboat during subantarctic winter; carried four Fuegians back to England, one of whom died, educated the remaining three at his own expense; sailed in the 'Beagle' to return Fuegians to their homeland and continue survey, accompanied by Charles Darwin (November 1831 - October 1836); published a narrative of the 'Beagle' voyages (1839); elected elder brother of Trinity House (July 1839); Gold medal, Royal Geographical Society (1836); MP for Tory seat in Co Durham (1841); Governor of New Zealand (1843-1845); Superintendent, Woolwich Dockyard (September 1848); retired from active service (February 1850), Rear Admiral (1857), Vice Admiral (1863); managing director, General Screw Steam Shipping Company; personal secretary to Lord Hardinge (his uncle); member of Athenaeum (1852); meteorological statist, Meteorological Department, Board of Trade (1854); committee of management, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (1859); co-ordinated first storm warning signals (February 1861), published in newspapers (August 1861); initiated use of term 'forecast'; published 'Weather Book' (1863); Board of Trade demanded that forecasts cease; committed suicide at his home, Lyndhurst, Westwood Hill, Upper Norwood, Surrey.