Augustus Hamilton
New Zealand ethnologist, biologist and museum director (1853–1913)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Augustus Hamilton[1] (1 March 1853 – 12 October 1913) was a New Zealand ethnologist, biologist and museum director. He was born in Poole, Dorset, England on 1 March 1853.[2] He wrote on the fishing and seafoods of the ancient Māori people.[3] He also wrote on the art and workmanship of the Māori in New Zealand with a series of illustrations (from photographs).[4]
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Hamilton became the second director of the Colonial Museum in Wellington, following James Hector, in 1903.[5][6][7] He was one of the principal ethnologists in New Zealand at the time; he helped develop the Māori Antiquities Act in 1901 and was the main proponent for building a National Māori Museum.[6] Hamilton was President of the Royal Society of New Zealand between 1909 and 1911; preceded by G. M. Thomson and followed by Thomas Frederic Cheeseman.[8]
Hamilton's scientific specimens and other collection items are at Te Papa and other New Zealand institutions.[9][10][11]
