Biography and Bibliography of Dr. Thomas Nelson Annandale (1876-1924)
From the Preface: "Nelson Annandale, more completely Thomas Nelson Annandale (1876-1924) for some strange reason does not feature in the academic curriculum of any Indian University teaching “Zoology” as a subject. The last of the English alphabet denoting the exciting area of science inspired many brilliant minds over the centuries. But perhaps few can match the like of Nelson Annandale. Borne in 15th June 1876, Nelson was the eldest son of Dr. Thomas Annandale, Professor of Clinical Surgery at the University of Edinburgh. His quest for knowledge was untiring in two major subject areas viz., anthropology and zoology. One can now related the first and last letters of English alphabet, albeit logically--both dealing with life, past and present.
Nelson Annandale had his early education at Rugby where ‘his only recorded success appears to have been winning of a prize for an essay on the natural history subject’. From Rugby to Balliol College, Oxford, the passage was smooth; studying Zoology under Ray Lankester, Nelson graduated with honor in 1898. But while an undergraduate, Nelson had his restless mind exploring unknown. He visited Iceland and Faeroes Island on anthropological mission and even published a book ‘The Faeroes and Island: A study in Island Life’ (Clarendon Press, 1908). Right after graduation, he joined Skeat Expedition in 1899 to Malay Peninsula and again traveled to the area between 1901 and 1903. Nelson was then a Research Fellow in Anthropology (1902-1904) and his work ‘Fascicule Malayanees’ -- a series of papers finally earned him D. Sc., from the University of Edinburgh in 1905.”
Nelson Annandale had his early education at Rugby where ‘his only recorded success appears to have been winning of a prize for an essay on the natural history subject’. From Rugby to Balliol College, Oxford, the passage was smooth; studying Zoology under Ray Lankester, Nelson graduated with honor in 1898. But while an undergraduate, Nelson had his restless mind exploring unknown. He visited Iceland and Faeroes Island on anthropological mission and even published a book ‘The Faeroes and Island: A study in Island Life’ (Clarendon Press, 1908). Right after graduation, he joined Skeat Expedition in 1899 to Malay Peninsula and again traveled to the area between 1901 and 1903. Nelson was then a Research Fellow in Anthropology (1902-1904) and his work ‘Fascicule Malayanees’ -- a series of papers finally earned him D. Sc., from the University of Edinburgh in 1905.”
