OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 254, 21 July 1920, Page 7

OBITUARY

4 .NATURALIST'S REMARKABLE CAREER. Sidney (British Columbia), July 19. Mr. John Macoun, the naturalist, ia dead. He was Botanist to the Canadian Pacific Railway on the exploration survey under Sir Sandford Fleming, the originator of the Pacific cable, and father of James Melville Macoun, who predeceased lifm. His widow survives him.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. I'Mr. Macoun had a remarkable career. He was born in Maralin, County Down, in 1831, and was self-educated. He emigrated to Canada in 1850, and farmed m tho bush till 1857, then taught in public schools 1 till 1871, and while thus engaged became Professor of Botany in Albert College, Belleville, Ontario. Tn 1875 he was appointed Professor of Natural History, and four years later was appointed explorer to the Canadian Government. In 1881 ho was made Do minjon Botanist, and in 1880 bcciini» Dominion Naturalist and Assistant-Direc-tor to the. Geological Survey of Canada. His son, James Melville. followed in hia footsteps, and in biological matters was not only « Canadian, but an international figure. His last appointment was head of tho biological division of tho Geological Survey of Canada-!