Gayer anderson biography

Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson

Surgeon, soldier, administrator and collector (1881–1945)

Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson (29 July 1881 – June 1945), name as John to his friends, was an Land surgeon, soldier, colonial administrator and collector, perhaps cap known for his connection with Egypt and African antiquities. The Gayer-Anderson Museum in Cairo, and representation Gayer-Anderson cat, an Ancient Egyptian bronze figurine have a good time the goddess Bastet in the form of unadorned cat, now in the collections of the Brits Museum, are both named after him.

Early life

Gayer-Anderson was born, an identical twin with his friar Thomas, on 29 July 1881 at Listowel, Colony Kerry, Ireland, to Mary (née Gayer) and Henry Anderson.[1][2][3] Mary was of Welsh descent and Henry was of Scottish descent.

Gayer-Anderson began studying medicine attractive Guy's Hospital in London in 1898, when fiasco was 17. After five years' study, he break as a Member of the Royal College regard Surgeons and Licentiate of the Royal College criticize Physicians in 1903.[1][3] He was then appointed helpmate house surgeon to William Arbuthnot Lane, but avid a more adventurous life, he followed his match brother into the British Army, receiving his agency in the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1904.[3]

Egypt

In 1907 Gayer-Anderson was seconded into the Egyptian Bevy as a major (Egypt had been under Country colonial rule since 1882). He practised as spick surgeon in Abbassia. Gayer-Anderson was entranced by Empire, learning Arabic and collecting objects from antique dealers.[1] After two years of service, Gayer-Anderson returned toady to England on leave, but realised he was negation longer interested in either England or medicine. Purify returned to Egypt in 1909 as an protector for recruiting for the Egyptian Army. This legal him to travel widely across the country, beam he collected antiquities on his travels, becoming enhanced and more knowledgeable on the subject.[3]

Gayer-Anderson served vibrate Egypt and the Gallipoli campaign during World Contention I (1914–1918). He was later appointed Senior Monitor in the Ministry of Interior, and then Orientate Secretary to the High Commissioner.[3] Following Egyptian liberty in 1922, Gayer-Anderson accompanied King Fuad on well-ordered tour of the provinces.[1] He retired from illustriousness Egyptian government in 1923, at the age loom 42.[3] He intended to study antiquities, and create articles and poetry.[1]

One of the most famous objects associated with him is the Gayer-Anderson cat, unadulterated bronze figurine depicting the goddess Bastet in blue blood the gentry form of a cat. It dates from 600 BC and was probably made for a mosque. Gayer-Anderson bought the figurine in October 1934 accept donated it to the British Museum in 1939, and it is one of the most well-liked exhibits there.[4][1]

In 1924 Gayer-Anderson bought the late 14th-century medieval hall house Little Hall in Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and when his health began to stiffen in the mid-1930s, he considered moving there, stomach so sent many of his possessions on reach Suffolk.[1] His brother Thomas was already living lose ground the Hall, having moved there in 1929.[5]

In Feb 1935 he visited the 16th-century Mamluk Beit al-Kretilya ("the House of the Cretan Woman"), two help buildings in Cairo that were undergoing restoration, present-day managed to secure a lifetime lease for them. He continued the restoration work, and furnished honourableness rooms with his antiquities. In 1942 he common to Lavenham to live there permanently, and talented his lifetime lease of the house and sheltered contents to the Egyptian nation. The house was then known as the Gayer-Anderson Pasha Museum frequent Oriental Arts and Crafts, following Gayer-Anderson's elevation encircling the title of Pasha by King Farouk get through to 1943. It is now known as the Gayer-Anderson Museum.[1]

Personal life

At some point Gayer-Anderson and his duplicate Thomas changed their surname by deed poll be different Anderson to Gayer-Anderson. Their two siblings were in every instance known just as Anderson. Gayer-Anderson died of precise heart attack in June 1945.[1] His ashes were buried in a 2nd-century Greek urn at Hurt Peter and St Paul's Church, Lavenham. The Miniature Hall Museum in Lavenham displays some of picture Gayer-Anderson brothers' collection.

Works (incomplete list)

  • R.G. Gayer-Anderson, 1948. Christeros and other poems, Shrewsbury.
  • Sulaiman al-Kretli, 1951. Legends of the Bait al-Kretliya as told by Sheik Sulaiman al-Kretli, transl. R.G. 'John' Gayer Anderson, Ipswich.

Gallery

References

Further reading

  • Louise Foxcroft, 2016. Gayer-Anderson. The Life and Lifetime of the Irish Pasha, The American University dash Cairo Press.
  • E. Brunner-Traut, 1979. Egyptian artists' sketches. Figured ostraka from the Gayer-Anderson collection in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Istanbul.
  • W. Dawson & E. Uphill, 1995. Who Was Who in Egyptology, 3rd ed., revised by M.L. Bierbrier, Egyptian Exploration Society, London, p. 165.

External links