Sir Clements Markham

The biography on Sir Clements Markham will take months –I now understand why no one in the Royal Geographic Society has attempted to write an account of his life in the 100+ years since he died!– His cousin, Admiral Albert Markham, did write a eulogistic book about him soon after his death, but this was dedicated to Markham’s widow, Minna. It avoided points of controversy for obvious reasons

I am writing the book with my distinguished colleague John Dudeney. John was the Deputy Director of the British Antarctic Survey. He has visited Antarctica virtually every year for over forty times – so hopefully no geographical concerns.

Clements was indefatigable. He was also a very intelligent, with a remarkably retentive memory (he could remember exact details from books years after reading them). His intelligence and industry was apparent at an early age – when he was eight he wrote a number of books amongst which was a series related to British history. This so impressed his father, the Reverend David Markham, that he (the Rev.Markham), had them printed- Clements decided immediately that he would become an author! Writing was essential to him. He kept a journal from a young age that recorded his (frank) impression of the people he met and places he visited.

His loyalty and enthusiasm to the Royal Geographic Society, which he joined in 1854 (and was a member for over fifty years), was absolute and he made many improvement (including a significant increase in membership). In 1859 he achieved an invaluable service to mankind when, supported by the Secretary of State for India, he, with three colleagues, led a perilous journey to Peru to smuggle QUININE out of the country. Peru had the virtual monopoly of quinine, the only known treatment for malaria which was a disease that killed thousands and thousands of victims. Unsurprisingly, Peru guarded the monopoly jealously and Clements’ success in collecting cinchona plants (which contained the quinine) and transporting the plants to India, where many flourished, saved very many lives. It can be said that he contributed an ongoing, priceless service to mankind.

His life continued thereafter in a bewildering series of activities which encompassed arranging expeditions and developing the society. He went as the official geographer on an invasion of Abyssinia. This followed the King of Abyssinia’s insulting behaviour towards the British. After the British rout of the Abyssinian army, Markham found the body of Theodore the King,who had shot himself to avoid captivity. He wrote that although Theodore had done terrible acts, he had been a brave man and had died a hero,

He was made President of the Royal Geographical Society in 1893. His aim (and achievement), as president was that Britain should be the first country ever to penetrate into the unknown continent of Antarctica. The expedition was to prove his greatest success but also his nemesis. To collect enough funds for the expedition Markham had to appeal to the government for the extra £45,000 which was needed to augment the £ 40,000 already collected. For such an appeal it became apparent that a joint approach with the Royal Society was necessary. A reasonable idea, but it quickly became apparent that the societies had vastly different ambitions for the venture (geographical findings and naval training viz. scientific advance) Markham was not a negotiator. During the years before the ship ‘Discovery’ was eventually launched, cooperation between the societies disintegrated virtually completely- Markham grew increasingly vituperative and aggressive with the strain. He became increasingly unpopular, even amongst his natural supporters and allies.

“Discovery” made many significant advances, but Markham’s reign in the society was finished. He resigned after ‘Discovery’ had returned to Britain.

This, and other aspects of Markham’x