F. C. R. Jourdain

Francis Charles Robert Jourdain
Born	Ashbourne, Derbyshire, United Kingdom
Died	February 27, 1940(1940-02-27) (aged 74) Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Known for	ornithology, oology, Jourdain Society

The Reverend Francis Charles Robert Jourdain (March 4, 1865 - February 27, 1940), M.A., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., was a notable British amateur ornithologist and oologist. He was primarily known for his extensive research into the breeding biology of the birds of the Palaearctic region. He also had interests in the food of British birds and their geographical distribution and strongly encouraged detailed and accurate record keeping in local ornithology. He was a founder of the British Oological Association, which changed its name after his death to the Jourdain Society in his memory.

Jourdain was born in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, the eldest son of Rev. F. Jourdain, vicar of Ashbourne-cum-Mapleton. He was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford and ordained in 1890. Following two curacies in Suffolk he was appointed vicar of Clifton-by-Ashbourne in 1894. In 1914 he was appointed rector of Appleton, near Abingdon, Berkshire, where he stayed until he retired in 1925.

He did not publish his first ornithological paper until 1899. From 1900 he went on an ornithological expedition abroad almost every year until his death, which resulted in a number of papers on the birds of the countries he visited. While at Appleton he actively encouraged ornithological study at Oxford University, welcoming interested students to his home. In 1922 he founded the Oxford Ornithological Society and was president until his retirement in 1925. This society led in later years to the formation of the British Trust for Ornithology and the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology. He organized and led the Oxford University Spitsbergen Expedition in 1921.

Jourdain produced a number of ornithological papers, although many were started but never finished, and authored or contributed to a number of books, notably the sections on Breeding-habits, Distribution Abroad and Food in the Handbook of British Birds (1938-1941). He was assistant editor of British Birds from 1909 onwards, assistant editor of The IBIS from 1931 onwards and co-editor of The Oologists Record from 1935 onwards. He joined the British Ornithologists’ Union in 1899, serving on the committee including as vice-President in 1934, joined the British Ornithologists’ Club in 1905, was a member of the British List Committee for many years and was a founding member of the British Oological Association, of which he was president from 1932-1939. He was also a member of the International Ornithological Committee, an Honorary Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union and an Honorary Member of the ornithological societies of France, Germany, Holland and Hungary.

He led the first Oxford University Expedition to Spitsbergen and traveled extensively in Europe and North Africa. He served as President of the Oxford Ornithological Society and was associated with many other ornithological bodies.

He retired in 1925, initially to Norfolk and then to Southbourne in Bournemouth two years later. He continued active field ornithology, writing and regularly attending ornithological gatherings right up until his death.

Jourdain died in Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Publications

In addition to many ornithological papers, books he authored or coauthored include:

• Hartert, Ernst (1912). A Hand-List of British Birds. London: H.F.&G. Witherby Ltd. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Jourdain, F.C.R. (1906–1909). The Eggs of European Birds. London: R.H. Portet.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link).
• Kirkman, F. B. (1930). British Birds. Nelson & Jack. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Witherby, H.F.; Jourdain, F.C.R.; Ticehurst, Norman F.; & Tucker, Bernard W. (1938–1941). The Handbook of British Birds. Vols.1-5. H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd: London.

Expeditions

• 1900 Noord Brabant, Holland
• 1901 N. Holland and Texel
• 1902 Holland
• 1903 Jutland
• 1904 Holland
• 1905/06/07 Southern Spain
• 1907 Marocco
• 1908/09 Corsica
• 1910/11 Dobrogea, E. Rumania
• 1912 S.W. Iceland
• 1913/14 Eastern Algeria
• 1915/19 Southern Spain
• 1920 Marocco
• 1921/22 Norway and Spitsbergen
• 1923 Holland, Haute Savoie and Switzerland
• 1924 Norway and Finland
• 1925 Tunisia and the Camargue
• 1926 Tunisia, Holland and Denmark
• 1927 Algeria
• 1928 Algeria and Marocco
• 1929 Cyprus
• 1930 Balearic Islands and Holland
• 1931 Cyprus and Palestine
• 1932 Scotland
• 1933 Switzerland and Haute Savoie
• 1934 Wales
• 1935 Egypt and Palestine
• 1936 Hungary
• 1937 Corsica
• 1938 France
• 1939 Scotland and Shetland

References

• Manuscript and Drawing Collection of Francis Charles Robert Jourdain (1865–1940). A Collection Description. Natural History Museum: London. [1] Accessed 15 December 2006.