A Brief Biography of Sir Peter Scott
Sir Peter Markham Scott CH CBE DSC FRS (1909 - 1989) was the son of the Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott, who lost his life during an expedition to the South Pole in 1911.
Born in London, Peter Scott studied Natural Sciences and History of Art at Cambridge University. He became a naturalist, conservationist, ornithologist, artist, broadcaster and author, whose abiding passion was wildlife - and wildfowl and wild birds in particular.
CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scott was also a fine sailor, winning a bronze medal in the 1936 Olympics, a champion glider pilot, and an accomplished scuba diver. He served in the Royal Navy during World War 2, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery.
Described as the 'Father of Conservation', he led a campaign for endangered wildlife that captured the imagination of a generation, and inspired many to care about wildlife and the environment long before it became fashionable to do so.
He founded the Severn Wildfowl Trust (now the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust or WWT) at Slimbridge in 1946, and co-founded the World Wide Fund for Nature (now the World Wildlife Fund or WWF).
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in February 1973, and was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 1987 "for services to conservation".
Sir Peter died in August 1989, and a service to celebrate his life was held at St. Paul's Cathedral on 20th November 1989, with the first lesson read by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, the president of the Worldwide Fund for Nature at that time.
The following more detailed list covers Peter Scott's life, activities and achievements up to the end of the 1950s, and was prepared in 1960 as a supporting document for a recommendation for a Knighthood. The document was signed by Lord Alanbrooke, the Duke of Beaufort and Guy Benson (Treasurer of The Wildfowl Trust). Scott was eventually knighted in 1973.
Born 1909; son of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Antarctic Explorer, and of Kathleen Scott (née Bruce, and afterwards Lady Kennet), Sculptor.
Married 1942 Jane Howard; one daughter, Nicola born 1943. Marriage dissolved. Married 1951 Philippa Talbot-Ponsonby; one daughter Dafila born 1952; one son Falcon born 1954.
EDUCATION
West Downs. Oundle School. Trinity College, Cambridge. Munich State Academy. Royal Academy Schools, London.
PROFESSION
Painter
Principally birds and portraits. Exhibitions since 1933 at Ackermann's Galleries, London; Royal Academy etc. Also in New York at Harlow's Gallery, Kennedy's Gallery and Crossroads of Sport Inc.
Reproductions made by Ackermann's Galleries, 3 Old Bond Street; Medici Society Ltd., 7 Grafton Street, London, W1; Royle Publications Ltd., 207 Essex Road, London, N1; Henry Holt and Co. Inc., New York.
Author
"Morning Flight" 1935. "Wild Chorus" 1938. "Battle of the Narrow Seas" 1946. "Key to the Wildfowl of the World" 1949. "Portrait Drawings" 1949. "Wild Geese and Eskimos" 1951. "A Thousand Geese" (with James Fisher) 1953. "Wildfowl of the British Isles" with Hugh Boyd, 1956. "Coloured Key to the Wildfowl of the World" 1957.
Illustrator
"A Bird in the Bush" - Lord Kennet. "Through the Air" and "Grey Goose" - Michael Bratby. "The Snow Goose" - Paul Gallico. "The Turn of the Tide" - Richard Perry. "Countryside Character" - Blandford Press. "Adventures Amongst Birds" by three Schoolboys. "Handbook of British Birds" Volume III - Witherby. "Lemuel" - Ray Gregorson. "And Clouds Flying..." Ian Pitman. "The Waterfowl of the World" - Jean Delacour.
Ornithologist
Awarded C.B.E. 1953 as Director (and Founder in 1946) of 'The Wildfowl Trust', formerly 'The Severn Wildfowl Trust', a non-profit making organisation principally devoted to scientific research, to conservation and to education, whose purpose is to make a close study of the ducks, geese and swans of the world in general, and Britain in particular, in order to assure the survival of adequate stocks.
It is situated at The New Grounds, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, an area which offers unique facilities for the close study of wild geese and other birds wintering on the Severn, and which is the setting for the most representative comparative collection of live waterfowl in the world.
Has travelled in search of birds and other animals to Central Europe, Balkans, Black Sea, Mesopotamia, Caspian Sea, Lapland, Iceland, Canada, United States, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, Bolivia, Uganda, Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii.
1934-39 established Bird Sanctuary, collection of tame waterfowl at East Lighthouse, Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire.
During the summer of 1949, in company with two Americans, explored the Perry River region of Arctic Canada which borders Queen Maud Gulf on the Arctic Ocean. The expedition sponsored by the Arctic Institute, was mainly directed towards a study of the breeding grounds of Ross's Snow Goose.
In the summers of 1951 and 1953, led Wildfowl Trust expeditions to the breeding grounds of the Pinkfooted Goose in the Central Highlands of Iceland. 1,150 geese were marked in 1951, and 9,000 in 1953, enabling world population estimates to be made after subsequent sampling of the flocks in Britain.
Invented and developed method of catching wild geese for ringing by means of rocket-propelled nets. Altogether more than 25,000 Pinkfeet have been marked in the last 8 years.
BROADCASTER
Talks and commentaries (including commentaries on Victory Procession, Royal Wedding, etc.). Broadcast Sunday night "Postscript" for St. George's Day, 1943, on subject of late Lieut. Commander R.P. Hichens, D.S.O. and Bar, D.S.C. and two Bars, R.N.V.R. Has broadcast in Children's Hour Nature Parliament monthly since 1947, also The Naturalist, and other regular programmes. Television programme 'Look' on Natural History subjects, with film, running since 1953.
WAR SERVICE
Volunteered for Navy 1939. Served in H.M.S. "Broke" in Battle of France 1940. As embarkation officer, attempted evacuation of troops from St. Valery and Brest. Served in H.M.S. "Broke" in Battle of Atlantic 1940-42.
Mentioned in dispatches 1941 for rescue of crew of burning armed merchant cruiser in gale. Invented camouflage scheme adopted by Admiralty for all ships in Atlantic and many elsewhere. Awarded M.B.E. 1942 after rocket accident in troopship.
Flew with R.A.F. in two bombing raids in Stirlings to Kiel and to Cologne 1942. Joined Light Coastal Forces 1942 in command of a Steam Gun-boat H.M.S. "Grey Goose". Took part in Dieppe Raid. Mentioned in dispatches August 1942.
Appointed to command Steam Gun-boat Flotilla 1943. Engaged in large number of night actions in Channel. Awarded D.S.C. and Bar and mentioned in dispatches.
Joined planning staff of Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth for invasion of Normandy 1944. Based in Normandy Bridgehead after D-Day. Experienced land fighting during campaign near Caen. Attached to U.S. Naval Headquarters at Cherbourg August 1944. Took part in a number of night actions in Channel Islands whilst in command of a force of American ships.
Appointed to command a new class Frigate H.M.S. "Cardigan Bay" 1945. Completed flying training whilst ship was building. Met surrendering E-boats off Thames Estuary and brought them into Felixstowe 13th May 1945.
POLITICS
Fought 1945 General Election at Wembley North as Conservative, losing by 435 votes. President Home Counties North Young Conservatives, 1946-47.
RECREATIONS
Exploring and Travelling
Caspian Sea 1937. Lapland 1948. Arctic Canada 1949. Lapland 1950. Central Iceland 1951, and 1953. South America 1953. Uganda 1956. Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji & Hawaii 1957.
Sailing
Represented Great Britain at Olympic Games 1936 in single-handed sailing (Bronze Medal). Three times winner Prince of Wales' Cup (Championship of International 14 foot Dinghies) - 1937, 1938, 1946. Led British Dinghy Team to Canada 1936. Winner of sailing speed record Cowes 1954. Owns International 14' Dinghy 'Thunder and Lightning' (jointly with John Winter).
Gliding
Holder Gold 'C' International Badge 1958 (First flight 1956). Owns T. 42b Slingsby Eagle.
BODIES
President: International Yacht Racing Union; Gloucestershire Association of Youth Clubs; Newport Wildfowlers Association.
Vice-President: Royal Yachting Association; Inland Waterways Association; Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland; Council for Nature; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; International Cadet Class; Bristol Gliding Club.
Member of Council: Zoological Society of London; Home Office Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds; International Union for the Conservation of Nature; Central Council for Physical Recreation; British Schools Exploring Society; British Gliding Association; Officers Association; Boy Scouts Association; International Ornithological Committee.
Chairman: Olympic Yachting Committee 1948. International Jury for Yachting at the Olympic Games, Melbourne, 1956. International 14' Dinghy Association.
Trustee: The Uganda National Parks.
Member: International Ornithological Committee. Man Powered Aircraft Committee.
Fellow: British Interplanetary Society.
CLUBS
Royal Yacht Squadron. Island Sailing Club. Royal Thames Yacht Club. Savile Club. Cambridge University Cruising Club. Bristol Gliding Club.