Statue of Sir Peter Scott at the WWT London Wetland Centre

Sir Peter Markham Scott, CH, CBE, DSC, FRS, FZS, (September 14, 1909 – August 29, 1989) was a British ornithologist, conservationist, painter and sportsman. WWT London Wetland Centre is a Wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in the Barnes area of the London Borough of Richmond The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Sailing (or yachting) was introduced as an Olympic sport at the 1900 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, as a men's competition The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, an International Multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin At the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, four events in Sailing were contested The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC) is the third level Military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993 ratings of the Royal Navy and formerly The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 The Zoological Society of London (sometimes known by the abbreviation ZSL) is a Learned society founded in London in April 1826 by Sir Thomas Stamford Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 1909 ( MCMIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ornithology (from Greek ὄρνις ὄρνιθος ornis, ornithos, "bird" and λόγος logos, "knowledge" is the branch of The conservation movement also known as nature conservation is a political social and to some extent scientific movement that seeks to protect natural resources including Painting (pān'tīng in Art, is the practice of applying Color to a Surface (support base such as e

Life history

Early life

Scott was born in London, the only child of Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott, who died when he was three years old. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. He famously left instructions to his wife, sculptor Kathleen Bruce, to "try and make the boy interested in natural history if you can". Kathleen Scott Baroness Kennet, born Edith Agnes Kathleen Bruce FRSBS, ( 27 March 1878 - 25 July 1947) was a British Natural history is the Scientific research of Plants or Animals leaning more towards the Observational than Experimental methods His mother remarried and had another child, Wayland Young (Lord Kennet). Wayland Hilton Young, 2nd Baron Kennet (born August 2, 1923) is a British writer and SDP and Labour Party politician Wayland Hilton Young, 2nd Baron Kennet (born August 2, 1923) is a British writer and SDP and Labour Party politician Scott's godfather was Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie. A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's Baptism. Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J Sir James Matthew Barrie 1st Baronet OM ( 9 May, 1860 &ndash 19 June, 1937) more commonly known as J He was educated at Oundle School and Trinity College, Cambridge, initially reading Natural Sciences but graduating in the History of Art in 1931. Oundle School is a public school located in the ancient market town of Oundle in Northamptonshire, England. Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. In Science, the term natural science refers to a naturalistic approach to the study of the Universe, which is understood as obeying rules or law of

Success in art

He inherited his artistic talent from his mother and had his first exhibition in London in 1933. His wealthy background allowed him to follow his interests in art, wildlife and many sports, including sailing and ice skating. Sailing is the art of controlling a Sailing vessel. By changing the Rigging, Rudder and dagger or centre board a Sailor manages the force Ice skating is Traveling on Ice with skates, narrow (and sometimes parabolic) blade-like devices moulded into special Boots A study In 1936, he represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland at sailing in the Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal. The British Olympic Association ( BOA) is responsible for the United Kingdom 's participation in the Olympic Games. See also Dinghy sailing Dinghy racing is the competitive Sport of sailing dinghies. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games For the New York City civilian award go to Bronze Medallion - New York City Award A Bronze medal is a Medal awarded

Second World War

During World War II, Scott served in the Royal Navy, emulating his father. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) He served first in destroyers in the North Atlantic but later moved to commanding a group of Steam Gun Boats against German E-boats in the English Channel. In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy Design The Steam Gun Boats were conceived to answer the seeming need for a craft which was large enough to put to sea in rough weather and which could operate both as a 'super-gunboat' Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. History After the Treaty of Versailles most of Germany's military production was severely curtailed ^[1] He is also partly credited with designing 'shadow camouflage', which disguised the look of ship superstructure. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery. The Distinguished Service Cross ( DSC) is the third level Military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993 ratings of the Royal Navy and formerly

Post war life

He stood as a Conservative candidate unsuccessfully in the 1945 general election in Wembley North. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Results |} Total votes cast 24073025 All parties shown Conservative total includes Ulster Unionists Reason for Labour victory Wembley North was a parliamentary constituency in what was then the Borough of Wembley in North-West London. In 1948, he founded the organisation with which he was ever afterwards closely associated, the Severn Wildfowl Trust (now the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust) with its headquarters at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is a Wildfowl and Wetland conservation charity in the United Kingdom. WWT Slimbridge is a Wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (a UK charity at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, England History See also History of Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a historic county mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 10th century In the years that followed, he led several ornithological expeditions worldwide, and became a television personality, popularising the study of wildfowl and wetlands. A wetland is an area of Land consisting of Soil that is Saturated with Moisture, such as a Swamp, Marsh, or Bog His BBC natural history series, Look, ran from 1955 to 1981 and made him a household name. He wrote and illustrated several books on the subject, including his autobiography, The Eye of the Wind (1961). In the 1950s, he also appeared regularly on BBC radio's Children's Hour, in the series, "Nature Parliament". See also The Children's Hour (disambiguations Children's Hour &mdashat first " The Children's Hour" from a verse by Longfellow

He married Elizabeth Jane Howard in 1942. Elizabeth Jane Howard (born 26 March 1923, London) is an English novelist A daughter, Nicola, was born a year later. They divorced in 1951 and he married an assistant, Philippa Talbot-Ponsonby, while on an expedition to Iceland in search of the breeding grounds of the Pink-footed Goose. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( The Pink-footed Goose ( Anser brachyrhynchus) is a Goose which breeds in eastern Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard. A daughter, Dafila, was born later in the same year. (Dafila is the old scientific name for a pintail). Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification The word comes from the Greek, taxis (meaning 'order' 'arrangement' and, nomos The Pintail or Northern Pintail ( Anas acuta) is a widely-occurring Duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and She, too, is now an artist, painting birds [1].

Scott took up gliding in 1956 and became a British champion in 1963. Gliding is a Recreational activity and competitive Sport in which pilots fly un-powered aircraft known as Gliders or sailplanes He was chairman of the British Gliding Association (BGA) for two years from 1968 and was president of the Bristol & Gloucestershire Gliding Club. The British Gliding Association (BGA is the governing body for Gliding in the United Kingdom. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He was responsible for involving Prince Philip in gliding; the Prince is still patron of the BGA.

Scott also continued with his love of sailing, skippering the 12 metre yacht Sovereign in the 1964 challenge for the America's Cup which was held by USA. A yacht is a recreational boat It designates two rather different classes of Watercraft, sailing and power yachts The America’s Cup is the most prestigious Regatta and Match race in the sport of Sailing, and the oldest active Trophy in international The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Sovereign suffered a whitewash 4-0 defeat in a very one-sided competition where the American boat was seen to be the faster design.

From 1973 to 1983, Scott was Chancellor of the University of Birmingham. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Chancellor or chancellour (archaic ( Latin: cancellarius) is an official Title used in countries whose civilization has arisen The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a British red brick University located in the city of Birmingham This was his final notable occupation, as he died six years later just before what would have been his 80th birthday.

World Wide Fund for Nature

He was one of the founders of the World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly called the World Wildlife Fund), and designed its panda logo. The Giant Panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca, "black-and-white cat-foot" is a Mammal classified in the Bear family ( Ursidae) native to His pioneering work in conservation also contributed greatly to the shift in policy of the International Whaling Commission and signing of the Antarctic Treaty. The International Whaling Commission ( IWC) is an international body set up by the terms of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW, which The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate International relations with respect to The latter inspired by his visit to his father's base on Ross Island in Antarctica. Ross Island is an island formed by four Volcanoes in the Ross Sea by Antarctica, off the coast of Victoria Land in McMurdo Sound

Loch Ness Monster

He is also remembered for giving the scientific name of Nessiteras rhombopteryx (based on a blurred underwater photograph of a supposed fin) to the Loch Ness Monster so that it could be registered as an endangered species. The Loch Ness Monster ( Nessiteras rhombopteryx) is an alleged animal family and upward Incertae sedis, purportedly inhabiting Scotland 's Loch Ness The name, based on Greek, means "the wonder of Ness with the diamond shaped fin" but is also an anagram of "Monster hoax by Sir Peter S". The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c An anagram ( Greek anagramma 'letters written anew' passive participle of ana- 'again' + gramma 'letter' is a type of Word play

British Naturalists' Association

Scott was a long-time Vice-President of the British Naturalists' Association, whose Peter Scott Memorial Award was instituted after his death, to commemorate his achievements. The British Naturalists' Association is one of the country's oldest Natural history organisations founded in 1905 He received many awards during his distinguished life, including being appointed a Companion of Honour (CH). The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order.

Television Documentaries and Other Cultural References

In June 2004, Scott and Sir David Attenborough were jointly profiled in the second of a three part BBC Two series, The Way We Went Wild, about television wildlife presenters and were described as being largely responsible for the way that the British and much of the world views wildlife. Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS (born 8 May 1926 in London, England The Way We Went Wild is a three-part BBC TV series first shown on BBC Two, about British Wildlife presenters.

Scott's life was also the subject of a BBC Four documentary called "Peter Scott - A Passion for Nature" produced in 2006 by Available Light Productions, Bristol. BBC Four is a BBC Television channel available to digital television ( Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable) viewers in the Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London

Scott also appears as a minor character in the novel The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams. The Plague Dogs is the third novel by Richard Adams, author of Watership Down. Richard George Adams (born May 9, 1920) is an English Novelist who is best known as the writer of three novels featuring animal characters His fictional alter ego assists in rescuing the protagonists from their final peril. A deus ex machina ( lat. ˈdeːus eks ˈmaːkʰina literally "god from a/the machine" is an improbable

Notes

Bibliography

• Morning flight. Country Life, London 1936-44.
• Wild chorus. Country Life, London 1939.
• The battle of the narrow seas. Country Life, White Lion & Scribners, London, New York 1945-74. ISBN 0-856-17788-1
• Portrait drawings. Country Life, London 1949.
• Key to the wildfowl of the world. Slimbridge 1950.
• Wild geese and Eskimos. Country Life & Scribner, London, New York 1951.
• A thousand geese. Collins, Houghton & Mifflin, London, Boston 1953/54.
• A coloured key to the wildfowl of the world. Royle & Scribner, London, New York 1957-88.
• Wildfowl of the British Isles. Country Life, London 1957.
• The eye of the wind. (autobiography) Hodder, Stoughton & Brockhampton, London, Leicester 1961-77. ISBN 0-340-04052-1, ISBN 0-340-21515-1
• Animals in Africa. Potter & Cassell, New York, London 1962-65.
• My favourite stories of wild life. Lutterworth 1965.
• Our vanishing wildlife. Doubleday, Garden City 1966.
• Happy the man. Sphere, London 1967.
• Atlas en couleur des anatidés du monde. Le Bélier-Prisma, Paris 1970.
• The wild swans at Slimbridge. Slimbridge 1970.
• The swans. Joseph, Houghton & Mifflin, London, Boston 1972. ISBN 0-718-10707-1
• The amazing world of animals. Nelson, Sunbury-on-Thames 1976. ISBN 0-171-49046-0
• Observations of wildlife. Phaidon & Cornell, Oxford, Ithaca 1980. ISBN 0-714-82041-5, ISBN 0-714-82437-2, ISBN 0-801-41341-9
• Travel diaries of a naturalist. Collins, London 1983. ISBN 0-002-17707-2, ISBN 0-002-19232-2, ISBN 0-002-19554-2
• The crisis of the University. Croom Helm, London 1984. ISBN 0-709-93303-7, ISBN 0-709-93310-X
• Conservation of island birds. Cambridge 1985. ISBN 0-946-88804-3
• The art of Peter Scott. Sinclair-Stevenson, London 1992 p. m. ISBN 1-856-19100-1

Forewords

• George Edward Lodge - Unpublished Bird Paintings C. A. Fleming (Michael Joseph) 1983 ISBN 0718122127

External links

• Article illustrated with his paintings
• Biography
• Biography at WWT site
• Scott/Sutton Bridge/The Wash