Walter Buller

Sir Walter Lawry Buller KCMG (9 October 1838 – 19 July 1906) was a New Zealand lawyer and naturalist who was a dominant figure in New Zealand ornithology. His book, A History of the Birds of New Zealand, first published in 1873, was published as an enlarged version in 1888 and became a New Zealand classic.

For the bridge writer and player, see Walter Buller (bridge).

Sir Walter Buller

KCMG
Born
Walter Lawry Buller

(1838-10-09)9 October 1838
Pakanae, Hokianga, New Zealand
Died19 July 1906(1906-07-19) (aged 67)
Fleet, Hampshire, England
EducationWesley College, Auckland
Known forNew Zealand ornithology, A History of the Birds of New Zealand
SpouseCharlotte Mair
ChildrenFour
Scientific career
FieldsLaw, ornithology
Author abbrev. (zoology)Buller

Biography

Buller was born at Newark, the Wesleyan mission at Pakanae in the Hokianga, the son of Rev. James Buller, a Cornish missionary who had helped convert the people of Tonga to Methodism. He was educated at Wesley College in Auckland. In 1854, he moved to Wellington with his parents, where he was befriended by the naturalist William John Swainson. In 1859 he was made Native Commissioner for the Southern Provinces. In 1871 he travelled to England and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple. Three years later he returned to Wellington and practised law.[1]

In 1862, he married Charlotte Mair at Whangārei. They were to have four children.[1]

Buller was the author of A History of the Birds of New Zealand (1872–1873, 2nd ed. 1887–1888), with illustrations by John Gerrard Keulemans and Henrik Grönvold.[2] In 1882 he produced the Manual of the Birds of New Zealand as a cheaper popular alternative. In 1905, he published a two-volume Supplement to the History of the Birds of New Zealand, which brought the work up to date.

Buller was appointed Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George in 1875.[1] In November 1886, he was promoted to Knight Commander.[3] Buller helped establish the scientific display in the New Zealand Court at the World's Fair in Paris and was decorated with the Officer of the Legion of Honour by the President of France in November 1889.[4][5]

He had several unsuccessful attempts at entering Parliament as a Liberal. He contested the general elections of 1876 (Manawatu; beaten by the incumbent Walter Johnston)[6][7] and 1881 (Foxton, where he came fourth of six candidates),[1][8] and the 1891 by-election in the Te Aroha electorate (where he was beaten by William Fraser, the official Liberal Party candidate).[9]

He emigrated to England and died at Fleet in Hampshire on 19 July 1906.[1]

Wellington playwright Nick Blake authored a play on Buller's life, Dr Buller's Birds, which had its debut at the 2006 NZ International Arts Festival.[10]

List of honours

Eponyms

Species named after Walter Buller include Thalassarche bulleri (Buller's albatross) and Puffinus bulleri (Buller's shearwater).[11]

  • Book cover - A History of the Birds of New Zealand by Sir Walter Lawry Buller, Illustrated by J. G. Keulemans, 2nd edition, Published 1888.
    Book cover - A History of the Birds of New Zealand by Sir Walter Lawry Buller, Illustrated by J. G. Keulemans, 2nd edition, Published 1888.
  • Illustrations of the morepork (left) and the extinct laughing owl (right) by John Gerrard Keulemans in Buller's A History of the Birds of New Zealand. 2nd edition. Published 1888.
    Illustrations of the morepork (left) and the extinct laughing owl (right) by John Gerrard Keulemans in Buller's A History of the Birds of New Zealand. 2nd edition. Published 1888.
  • Pachyornis elephantopus ("Heavy-footed Moa")original caption: Leg of Dinornis elephantopus (front view: three-fourths natural size)
    Pachyornis elephantopus ("Heavy-footed Moa")
    original caption: Leg of Dinornis elephantopus (front view: three-fourths natural size)

References
  1. Galbreath, Ross. "Buller, Walter Lawry – Biography". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  2. "A History of the birds of New Zealand / by Walter Lawry Buller. 1873". The Royal Collection Trust. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. "No. 25642". The London Gazette. 9 November 1886. p. 5443.
  4. Brewer, M., 'New Zealand and the Legion d'honneur: Officiers, Commandeurs and Dignites', The Volunteers: The Journal of the New Zealand Military Historical Society, 35(3), March 2010, p.136.
  5. 'Death of Sir Walter Buller, A noted Ornithologist', Evening Post, 20 July 1906, p.6.
  6. "Wellington". Wanganui Chronicle. Vol. XIX, no. 2954. 13 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  7. "The Manawatu Election". Evening Post. Vol. XIII, no. 8. 11 January 1876. p. 2. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  8. "Foxton". Thames Star. Vol. XII, no. 4043. 13 December 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  9. "Te Aroha Election". Thames Star. Vol. XXIII, no. 6930. 10 July 1891. p. 2. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  10. "Play shows bird man's treachery". nzherald.co.nz. 25 February 2006. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
  11. Buller, Walter (1888). "Puffinus Bulleri. — (Buller's Shearwater.)". A History of the Birds of New Zealand. London. Retrieved 13 November 2014.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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