Harry Scott Thornicroft Explained

Henry Scott Thornicroft, nicknamed "Dongolosi"^[1] (16 January 1868^[2] – 19 March 1944)^[3] was a British Native Commissioner in Petauke, in North-Western Rhodesia and later Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) for 17 years^{[1] [4]} and later a Justice of the Peace in Fort Jameson (now Chipata).^[3]

Thornicroft was born in St Pancras, London,^[5] the son of coal merchant Thomas Thornicroft and his wife, Matilda.^[6] In Rhodesia, Harry Thornicroft married a local woman and had 11 children,^[4] including Gaston Thornicroft, later a leader of the coloured community.^[7] Thornicroft's Giraffe, a subspecies of giraffe endemic to the Luangwa Valley, is named after him, from a specimen which he had shot and sent to the Natural History Museum, London, where it was displayed.^{[4] [8]}

He died in Northern Rhodesia.^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Truly Zambian. October 2004. The Lowdown. 27 July 2012. dead. https://archive.today/20041109083309/http://www.lowdown.co.zm/2004/2004-10/trulyzambian.htm. 9 November 2004.
2. London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1917
3. Book: Who's who of Southern Africa. 1937. K. Donaldson.. 236.
4. Book: McCarthy, Michael. Say Goodbye to the Cuckoo. 27 July 2012. 2010-03-04. John Murray. 9781848543829. 42.
5. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
6. 1871 England Census
7. Macmillan. Hugh. December 2000. Book review. Journal of Southern African Studies. Taylor & Francis. 26. 4 Special Issue: African Environments: Past and Present. 863–865. 2637576.
8. Chituta. Diana. 1985. Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti. Black Lechwe. Wild Life Conservation Society of Zambia. 9. 29–35.
9. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995