Transcript

of

H. Strangways Hounsell, M.D. [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1886, Vol XVIII, p.63.

by

Rev. W. Harpley

Prepared by Michael Steer

Medical practitioner and naturalist Dr Henry Strangways Hounsell was born 27 May 1828 at Bridport, Dorset and was the son of John Hounsell, born about August 1793 in Bridport and Elizabeth Treble Strangways born in 1805 at Creech St Michael, Taunton. They were married on 24 Jan 1826 at Ruishton, Somerset. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

H. Strangways Hounsell, M.D.,was for about twenty- five years a resident at Torquay, having succeeded to the practice of Dr. Battersby. In 1867 he became a member of the Torquay Natural History Society, and served on the com- mittee from May, 1870, to May, 1877, and again from May, 1878, to May, 1882. He was senior Vice-President during the year 1872-3. He frequently attended the Society's lectures and Monthly General Meetings, to the latter of which he read the following papers: "Notes on the Habits of the Fern Owl," 1870; "A few Notes on the Anthropoid Apes," 1871; "A Case of Anomalous Development of Hair in the Human Subject," 1873;  On One or Two Unsettled Points in the Natural History of the Cuckoo," 1873; "Notes on a Meteor," 1874 ; "Notes on Centipedes," 1875; "Notes on a Meteor, Observed at Torquay on 25th July, 1876," 1876; " Some Account of the Manners and Customs of the Aborigines of North Australia," 1880; and "Notes on a Water-Spout seen Recently on Dartmoor," 1881.

Dr. Hounsell in his time was an expert with his gun and fishing-rod; he was also a clever microscopist. He painted, too, in water-colours, and frequently exhibited at the Torquay Art Club.

He became a member of the Association in 1871. He died, somewhat suddenly, at his residence. Woodlands, Torquay, on 22nd February, 1886, at the age of 60 years.