John Coles
| John Coles FRAS FRGS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Coles, John.jpg | |||||||||
| Born | 1833 | ||||||||
| Died | 1911 | ||||||||
| Residence | Mitcham, Surrey | ||||||||
| Occupation | museum work | ||||||||
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Contents
Notes
Office Notes
House Notes
Map curator of the RGS
proposed 1891.01.13
Notes From Elsewhere
John Coles, the son of the late Charles Coles, merchant, of London, and afterwards of Tunbridge Wells, was born in London, 1833 February 18. At the age of fourteen he entered the Royal Navy, and early saw active service on the West Coast of Africa, where he distinguished himself in leading his boat's crew to the capture of a slaver. Later he served on the South American station, and at the outbreak of the Russian war he took part in the operations in the Baltic, where he lost an eye.
In 1857 Mr Coles left the Navy and went to British Columbia. After some years spent in gold mining, farming, and trading in furs,he settled at Saanich, on Vancouver Island, and was a member of the first Legislative Assembly at Victoria. A few years later he was engaged in laying cables in the Indian Ocean.
In 1877 Mr Coles, having returned to England, was appointed Map Curator to the Royal Geographical Society; and in the following year he bagan the courses of instruction in Field Astronomy and Survey which have come to form one of the most useful and important branches of the Society's activity. ...