Andrew Leith Adams facts for kids
Andrew Leith Adams (born March 21, 1827 – died July 29, 1882) was a Scottish army doctor. He was also a naturalist and geologist. A naturalist studies plants and animals. A geologist studies rocks and the Earth.
Andrew Leith Adams collected and described many types of birds and mammals. He also wrote about his travels. He served in the army in different parts of Asia and the Middle East. He was married to a famous writer named Bertha Jane Grundy. His son, Francis Adams, also became a writer.
About Andrew Leith Adams
Andrew Leith Adams was born in 1827. His father, Francis Adams, was also a surgeon. Andrew grew up in a place called Banchory-Ternan in Scotland. After his mother passed away early, his father raised him.
Andrew and his brothers loved exploring nature with their father. They looked for plants and animals along the River Dee. They also explored the Grampian mountains. They even collected bird specimens for their family's special collection.
Andrew studied medicine at Marischal College in Aberdeen in 1846. He joined the army as a doctor in 1848. He served in many different countries. These included India, Kashmir, Egypt, Malta, Gibraltar, and Canada.
In 1859, he married Bertha Jane Grundy. She later became a well-known novelist.
His Discoveries
While serving in the army, Andrew spent his free time studying nature. He was one of the first people to explore the inside of Ladakh. He wrote about his findings in a book called "The Birds of Cashmere and Ladakh."
He discovered a bird called the orange bullfinch. He also found the first place where brown-headed gulls laid their eggs. This was in the lakes of the Tibetan plateau.
In 1868, after 20 years in the army, he became a surgeon-major. This is a high rank for an army doctor.
Life as a Scientist
Andrew Leith Adams retired from the army in 1873. After that, he became a professor. He taught natural history at Trinity College, Dublin and Queen's College, Cork.
He was recognized for his important work. He became a fellow of the Geographical Society in 1870. He also became a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1872. In 1873, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. These are very respected groups for scientists.
Andrew Leith Adams passed away on July 29, 1882.
He sent most of the specimens he collected to a museum. Other scientists studied these specimens. Two animals were named after him to honor his work. One is a bird called the black-winged snowfinch (Montifringilla adamsi). The other is a type of giant dormouse from Malta and Sicily. This dormouse belongs to a group called Leithia melitensis and Leithia cartei. The name Leithia was chosen to honor Andrew Leith Adams.
