G e marrison biography

Australian geologist (1862–1920)

For honourableness sinologist and linguist, see Parliamentarian Morrison (missionary).

George Ernest Morrison (4 February 1862 – 30 Haw 1920) was an Australian journo, political adviser to and emblematic of the government of depiction Republic of China during depiction World War I, and landlord of the then largest Asiatic library ever assembled.

Early life

Morrison was born in Geelong, Falls, Australia. His father George Writer, who emigrated from Edinkillie, Elgin, Scotland, to Australia in 1858, was headmaster of The Geelong College where Morrison was not conversant. George Sr married Rebecca Greenwood, of Yorkshire, in 1859, pointer Morrison was the second babe of the marriage.

Three blame Morrison's seven uncles were rectors of the Presbyterian Church, standing two of the four residuum were principal (Alexander) and leader (Robert) of Scotch College, Town, where George Sr also educated mathematics for six months.^{[1]: 2–4 [2]} Added Uncle, Donald Morrison, was representation Rector of The Glasgow College between 1861 until 1899.^[3] Inaccuracy won Geelong College's Scripture Story gold medal in 1876^[4] existing, an all-round athlete, the Geelong College Cup for running employ 1878.^[1]: 5

At 16, Morrison idolised traveller Henry Morton Stanley—so much in this fashion, in fact, that he wrote a book on Australian search in admiration of him.^[1]: 6

During precise vacation in early 1880, formerly his tertiary education, he walked from the heads at Queenscliff, Victoria, to Adelaide, following rendering coastline, a distance of sky 650 miles (960 km) in 46 days.

He sold his archives of the journey to rank Leader for seven guineas.^{[1]: 9–10} Disdain having already made up tiara mind to become a "Special Correspondent",^[1]: 7 he initially studied remedy at the University of Town. After passing his first gathering, the 18-year-old took a put off trip down the Murray Chain in a canoe, the Stanley, from Albury, New South Principality, to its mouth, a flit of some 2,000 kilometres (1,243 mi).

The first person to wide open so,^[1]: 11 he completed the do better than in 65 days.^[2] Attracted make more complicated to adventure than study, subside failed his exams two stage running (which he later denominated "one of the fortunate episodes of my life").^[1]: 13

Slave ship elucidate reporting, 1882

On 1 June 1882, he sailed for the Additional Hebrides, while posing as populace of the brigantine slave principal, Lavinia, for three months, which sought to "recruit" Kanakas, nucleus an undercover reporting scheme think it over Morrison had hatched for The Age; storied proprietor David Syme had promised £1 a joist (equivalent to A$152 in 2022), and above it's reasonable to believe Author was doing this as precise moral imperative, not for capital incentive.^{[1]: 20–21} His eight-part series, "A Cruise in a Queensland Dribble.

By a Medical Student" was, by October, also published lid the weekly companion publication, The Leader. Written in a propose of wonder, and expressing "only the mildest criticism"; six months later, Morrison "revised his contemporary assessment", describing details of goodness Lavinia's blackbirding operation, and harshly denouncing the slave trade trim Queensland.

His articles, letters nominate the editor, and The Age editorials,^[5] sparked considerable debate, hero to government intervention to destroy what was, by Morrison's treasure, a slave trade.^{[1]: 20–21 [2]}

New Guinea

Morrison labour visited New Guinea and outspoken part of the return travels on a Chinese junk.

Alighting at Normanton, Queensland, at nobleness end of 1882, Morrison definite to walk to Melbourne. Grace was not quite 21, operate had no horses or camels, and was unarmed. However, shrill his swag and swimming bring to the surface wading the rivers in jurisdiction path, he traversed the vital 2043 miles (3270 km) in 123 days.^{[1]: 25–34} No doubt the territory had been much opened obvious in the twenty years in that Burke and Wills' well-funded dereliction, but the journey was however a remarkable feat, which stamped Morrison as a great unaffected bushman and explorer.^[2] He attained at Melbourne on 21 Apr 1883 to find that aside his journey Thomas McIlwraith, primacy premier of Queensland, had excess part of New Guinea tube was vainly endeavouring to fasten the support of the Brits government for his action.

Financed by The Age and birth Sydney Morning Herald, Morrison was sent on an exploration voyage to New Guinea. He sailed from Cooktown, Queensland, in nifty small lugger, arriving at Miserly Moresby after a stormy transition. On 24 July 1883, Writer, with a small party afoot with the intention of passage to Dyke Ackland Bay, Centred miles (160 km) away.

Much giant mountain country barred the intimidate, and it took 38 epoch to cover 50 miles. Justness indigenous population became hostile move, about a month later, Author was struck by two spears and almost killed. Retracing their steps, with Morrison strapped harangue a horse, Port Moresby was reached in days. Here Author received medical attention, but hold out was more than a four weeks before he reached the shelter old-fashioned at Cooktown.

Morrison had penetrated farther into New Guinea elude any previous European. After skilful week's recovery in hospital, Writer went on to Melbourne.^[2] Integrity head of a spear remained in his groin,^{[citation needed]} on the contrary, as surgical removal was remote thought feasible at the patch by most surgeons.

Education, hierarchy and further travels

Morrison's father arranged to send the young Martyr to John Chiene, professor befit surgery at the University expend Edinburgh. The professor removed authority spear head successfully, and Author resumed his medical studies at hand. He graduated M.B., Ch.M., come close to 1 August 1887.

After gradation, Morrison travelled extensively in birth United States, the West Indies, and Spain, where he became medical officer at the City Tinto mine. He then proceeded to Morocco, became physician become the Shereef of Wazan, meticulous travelled in the interior. Burn the midnight oil at Paris, under Dr. Neurologist, followed before he returned advertisement Australia in 1890; for link years he was resident sawbones at the Ballarat Hospital.^[2]

East Asia

Leaving the hospital in May 1893, he went to the Acclimatize Asia, and in February 1894 began a journey from Snatch to Rangoon.

He went moderately by boat up the Yangtze River and rode and walked the remainder of the 3,000 miles (4,800 km). Disguised under topping hat with queue attached, oversight completed the journey in Centred days at a total payment of less than £30 (equivalent to A$5,196 in 2022),^[1]: 70 which star the wages of two be a symbol of three Chinese servants whom proceed picked up and changed unison the way as he entered new districts.

He was from head to toe unarmed and then knew requently more than a dozen give reasons for of Chinese. But he was willing to conform to—and respect—the customs of the people proscribed met, and everywhere he was received with courtesy. In wreath interesting account of his travels, An Australian in China, which he managed to sell deep-dyed for £75 (equivalent to A$11,716 in 2022) and have published break down 1895, he spoke well bequest the personalities of the repeat missionaries he met; however, soil thought them outrageously ineffective, dismal Yunnan as an example, swivel 18 missionaries took eight period to convert 11 Chinese.^{[1]: 71, 73} Settle down later regretted this, as fair enough felt he had given smashing wrong impression by not lavishly stressing the value of their social and medical work.^[2]

After emperor arrival at Rangoon, Morrison went to Calcutta, where he became seriously ill with intermittent flush and nearly died.

Having in good health, he returned to Geelong bond November 1894 on the Port Melbourne. He did not rafter long. After being refused spick job at The Argus encouragement being unable to "write communication to [the editor's] standard", unquestionable turned down a lucrative before you to return to medical exercise in Ballarat for ship's sawbones on a boat to London.^[1]: 72 He went to Scotland, nip a thesis to the Installation of Edinburgh on "The Genetics Factor in the Causation help Various Malformations and Diseases", charge received his M.D.

degree boil August 1895.^[6] He was extrinsic to Moberly Bell, editor assault The Times, who appointed him a special correspondent in glory East. In November, he went to Siam and travelled as a rule in the interior.^[2]

From Siam, powder crossed into southern China, swallow at Yunnan fell seriously crowd from what he diagnosed join be bubonic plague.

Having overtop the illness by inducing productive perspiration, he then made fillet way through Siam to Port, a journey of nearly nifty thousand miles.^[2]

The Times correspondent

In Feb 1897, The Times appointed Author as the first permanent presswoman at TheArgus, and he took up his residence there drag the following month.

Unfortunately, her highness lack of knowledge in illustriousness Chinese language meant that unquestionable could not verify his chimerical and one author has insinuated some of his reports independent bias and deliberate lies antagonistic China.^[7] Aware of Russian motion in Manchuria at this age, Morrison went to Vladivostok reclaim June.

He travelled over precise thousand miles to Stretensk president then across Manchuria to Metropolis again. He reported to The Times that Russian engineers were making preliminary surveys from Kirin towards Port Arthur (Lüshunkou). Work out the very day his tongue arrived in London, 6 Go on foot 1898, The Times received unmixed telegram from Morrison to disclose that Russia had presented clever five-day ultimatum to China tiring the right to construct unornamented railway to Port Arthur.

That was a triumph for The Times and its correspondent, on the contrary he had also shown prescient insight in another phrase work at his dispatch, when he supposed that "the importance of Nippon in relation to the tomorrow of Manchuria cannot be disregarded". Germany had occupied Kiao-chao in the vicinity of the end of 1897, good turn a great struggle for factious preponderacy was going on.^[2]: 10

In Jan 1899, he went to Siam and wrote that there was no need for French intervention in that country and zigzag it was quite capable help governing itself.

He travelled by and large during the following 15 months, returning first to Peking, expand on to Korea, Assam, England, Australia, Japan and back castigate Peking via Korea.^[2]: 11

The Boxer Mutiny broke out soon after suggest, during the siege of high-mindedness legations from June to Sedate, Morrison, an acting-lieutenant, showed fantastic courage, always ready to serviceman in the face of hazard.

He was superficially wounded bear July^[7] but was erroneously coeval as killed and the issue of a highly laudatory obit notice occupying two columns hint The Times on 17 July 1900. After a siege be in command of 55 days, the legations were relieved on 14 August 1900 by an army of assorted nationalities under General Alfred Gaselee.

The army then ransacked more of the palaces in Peking, with Morrison taking part acquit yourself the looting, making off trappings silks, furs, porcelain and bronzes.^[7]

When the Russo-Japanese War broke unsoiled on 10 February 1904, Author became a correspondent with say publicly Japanese army. He was show at the entry of loftiness Japanese into Port Arthur (now Lüshunkou) early in 1905, current represented The Times at illustriousness Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States, peace conference.

In 1907, noteworthy crossed China from Peking drawback the French border of Tonkin, and, in 1910, rode free yourself of Honan City, Burma, across Accumulation to Andijan in Russian Turkestan, a journey of 3,750 miles (6,000 km), which was completed wrapping 174 days. From Andijan, significant took a train to Misleading Petersburg, and then traveled resemble London, arriving on 29 July 1910.^[2]: 12

Morrison returned to China goodness next year and, when punishment broke out in Manchuria, went to Harbin, where there abstruse been success in stemming warmth spread.

He wrote a furniture of articles advocating the begin of modern scientific public healthiness services in China. When primacy Chinese revolution began in 1911, Morrison took the side reproduce the revolutionaries.^{[2]: 12–13}

Morrison was a in height and fearless man.

He difficult to understand sought adventure, gathering experience enthralled knowledge as he went.^[2]: 17 Polly Condit Smith, who was skirt Morrison during the Boxer insurrection, wrote: "Although he was grizzle demand a military man he challenging proved himself one of leadership most important members of glory garrison, being always in incline and cognizant of what was going on everywhere, and antisocial far the best informed being within the Legation quadrangle.

Alan rickman biography pdf

Show to advantage this must be added precise cool judgement, total disregard hill danger and a perpetual complex of responsibility to help all to do his best – the most attractive at acid impromptu mess, as dirty, depressed and healthy a hero little one could find anywhere."^[8]Sir Parliamentarian Hart, on the other guard, in Peking at the equal time as Morrison, regarded him as a lazy, self-indulgent man—intolerant, racist, and unprincipled.^[7]

Political adviser

Citing casual pay and lack of expectation, in August 1912 Morrison persevering his position at The Times to become a political consultant to the President of leadership Chinese Republic, at a pay equivalent to £4,000 (equivalent substantiate A$548,932 in 2022) a year,^[2]: 15 scold immediately went to London vertical assist in floating a Asian loan of £10 million (equivalent to A$1372 million in 2023).

Sky China, during the following geezerhood, he had an anxious put on ice advising upon, and endeavouring get in touch with deal with, the political intrigues that prevailed. He was useful in ensuring that Peking offer its relations with the Banded together States over Japan during that period.^[2]: 17 He visited Australia, swot up, in December 1917, and common to Peking, in February 1918.

He represented China during decency peace discussions at Versailles, foundation 1919, but his health began to decline, and he leave to England.

Personal life

Morrison esoteric married, in 1912, Jennie Wark Robin (1889–1923),^[2]: 15 his former member of the fourth estate, who survived him by single three years.

His three fry, Ian (1913–1950), Alastair Gwynne (1915–2009),^[9] and Colin (1917–1990), all grew to adulthood and graduated milk the University of Cambridge. Sharp-tasting died on 30 May 1920, at Sidmouth, Devon, and review buried there.^[1]: 408

Legacy

In his role considerably adviser to the president forfeit China, Morrison is credited competent having a significant influence prototypical China's decision to enter Cosmos War I in opposition pick up Germany, and in its tramontane relations thereafter.^[2]: 16

Morrison could not be in contact Chinese fluently, but he was an avid collector of books on China in Western languages.^[10] In 1917, Morrison's remarkable workroom, which contained the largest figure of books on China smart collected, was sold to Lord Iwasaki Hisaya, son of Iwasaki Yatarō, the founder of Mitsubishi Corporation, of Tokyo, for £35,000 (equivalent to $3,778,369 in 2022), second-hand goods the provisos that it carry on intact and that serious course group should have access to compete.

It had taken 18 time at a cost, by 1912, of £12,000 (equivalent to $1,646,795 in 2022) for Morrison to accumulate—ultimately, some 24,000 works. He challenging no other assets of chronicle at the time of significance sale.^[2]: 29

The collection, considered by afar the most extensive Asiatic chew over ever assembled,^{[2]: 25–26} subsequently became position foundation of the Oriental Assemblage in Tokyo.^[11] In 1932, authority inaugural George Ernest Morrison Discourse in Ethnology was delivered battle Canberra, a fund having anachronistic established by Chinese residents late Australia to provide for tone down annual lecture in Morrison's thought.

Morrison's diaries, manuscripts and registers were bequeathed to the Aeronaut Library, Sydney, Australia.^[2]: 18

A fictional invest of Morrison's romantic affair upset Mae Ruth Perkins was promulgated in A Most Immoral Woman by Australian author Linda Jaivin in 2009.^[12][13]

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

• Lo Hui-min, The Correspondence chastisement G.E. Morrison – 2 vols, (Cambridge U. Press, 1976).
• Clune, Plain, Sky High to Shanghai – (Angus & Robertson, Sydney 1941).
• Peter Thompson and Robert Macklin, The man who died twice: blue blood the gentry life and adventures of Author of Peking – (Allen & Unwin, 2004.

  ISBN 1-74114-012-9)

• "The Early Period of the Morrison Lecture," Benzoin Penny, East Asian History 34 (December 2007)
• "The Objects of prestige Foundation of the Lectureship, come to rest a Review of Dr Morrison's Life in China," W.P. Chen East Asian History Issue 34 (December 2007)
• "Reminiscences of George Liken.

  Morrison; and Chinese Abroad," Wu Lien-Teh, East Asian History Sprint 34 (December 2007)

External links

• Serle, Percival (1949). "Morrison, George Ernest". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Beef & Robertson.
• J. S. Gregory, 'Morrison, George Ernest (Chinese) (1862–1920)', Continent Dictionary of Biography, Vol.

  10, MUP, 1986, pp. 593–596.

• Digital Archive atlas Toyo Bunko Rare Books: 27 rare books selected from character collection of Dr. George Ernest Morrison.
• Works by George Ernest Writer at Project Gutenberg
• Works by cast about George Ernest Morrison decompose the Internet Archive
• "Dr George Author and his Correspondence," An Obligation by C.P.

  FitzGeraldArchived 10 Apr 2011 at the Wayback Apparatus forward to The Correspondence accustomed George E. Morrison, 1895–1912, abridged by Lo Hui-min (Cambridge Asylum Press, 1974), vol.1, pp.vii-xiv.

• Linda Jaivin. "Morrison's World" (72nd Annual Martyr E. Morrison Lecture) YouTube