Morton Allport facts for kids

Morton Allport (born December 4, 1830 – died September 10, 1878) was a talented naturalist from Australia who was born in England. A naturalist is someone who studies nature, including plants and animals.

Early Life and Education

Morton Allport was born in a town called West Bromwich in England. When he was just one year old, in 1831, his family moved to Van Diemen's Land. This place is now known as Tasmania, an island state of Australia. Morton followed in his father's footsteps and studied law. He became a lawyer, or "solicitor," in Tasmania in 1852.

A Passion for Nature and Science

Even though he was a lawyer, Morton Allport had a huge passion for nature. He was a very skilled naturalist. He learned a lot about the animals and plants of Tasmania through his own studies and discoveries.

Studying Tasmanian Fish

Morton was especially interested in the fish of Tasmania. He spent a lot of time studying them. Whenever he found a new type of fish, he would carefully send samples to important experts in England and other places. He was known as a top expert on Tasmanian fish. He would list, describe, and even draw pictures of the fish he found.

Introducing New Species

Morton Allport also played a big part in bringing new kinds of fish to Tasmanian waters. He helped introduce salmon and trout to the rivers and lakes there. He also brought in other plants, like the beautiful white water-lily, and animals, like the perch fish.

Scientific Contributions and Societies

Morton Allport was a member of many important scientific groups around the world. He was a Fellow of the Linnaean Society of London and the Zoological Society. These are groups for people who study animals and plants. He was also a vice-president of the Royal Society of Tasmania. He wrote many valuable papers for this society about his favorite subjects. He also served on the Council of Education for many years.

Morton Allport passed away in Hobart, Tasmania, on September 10, 1878.