Julius Brenchley

Julius Lucius Brenchley (30 November 1816 – 24 February 1873), of Maidstone, was a 19th-century English explorer, naturalist and author.

Julius Brenchley
Brenchley in 1862 by Adam-Salomon
Born(1816-11-30)30 November 1816
Maidstone,
Died24 February 1873(1873-02-24) (aged 56)
Folkestone
NationalityEnglish
Occupationnaturalist

Life

Born at Kingsley House, Maidstone, Kent, Julius Brenchley was educated at Maidstone Grammar School and then St John's College, Cambridge.[1] He was set for a life in the Church, having been ordained at Holy Trinity, Maidstone, in 1843. However, in 1845, his father persuaded Brenchley to accompany him on a European tour, and he was bitten by the travel bug. From 1845 to 1867 he travelled the world, collecting, recording and sending material home. He was a passionate collector of art, ethnography and natural history, and was called a 'gentleman explorer'. Travelling the globe in search of knowledge and adventure, he sent many artefacts from his travels home which are now on display in Maidstone museum. A park adjacent to the museum, Brenchley Gardens, is named after him to honour his contributions, both cultural and financial, to the museum. During his travels, Brenchley visited every continent except Antarctica. He was especially active in the South Seas.[2]

Brenchley spent much of his adult life exploring the world in his tireless search for knowledge. His life was shaped by his 'passionate love of wandering'. He never got married because he was too busy exploring.

He died aged only 56, on February 24, 1873 in a Folkestone hotel and is buried in the family vaults at All Saints' Church, Maidstone. He is known as a pre-eminent adventurer of his time.

Tributes

A public park in Maidstone is named 'Brenchley Gardens' in his honour.

Publications

Brenchley published at least two books:

  • A Journey to Great Salt Lake City, 1861
  • Jottings during the cruise of H.M.S. Curac̜oa among the South Sea Islands in 1865, 1873

References
  1. "Brenchley, Julius Lucius (BRNY836JL)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. James, Frederick Vallance (1885–1900). "Brenchley, Julius Lucius" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  • Brenchley Collection A virtual museum displaying Julius Brenchley's Native North American artefacts, created by Canterbury Christ Church University and Maidstone Museum.
  • La Nature Account of the voyage of the Curacoa In French
  • Internet Archive Digitised Jottings during the cruise of HMS Curacoa among the South Sea islands in 1865
  • Works by or about Julius Brenchley in libraries (WorldCat catalog)


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