James Edmund Harting

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James Edmund Harting (April 29, 1841 - January 16, 1928) was an English ornithologist and conservationist. James Edmund Harting 1841-1928

James Edmund Harting was born in London on April 29th, 1841, the eldest son of James Vincent Harting and Alexine Milne Fotheringham. He was educated at Downside Abbey and London University and spent much of his youth traveling extensively on the Continent, including time spent at the Museums in Paris and Leyden. Passing all the exams for a solicitor except for criminal law, he worked diligently at his profession from 1868 to 1878 but eventually turned to natural history and writing. He wrote his first article for The Field on March 13th 1869 and remained on the staff for fifty years, becoming editor of the Naturalist Department in 1871 and later editor of the Shooting Department in addition to his other regular duties. By 1920 he had contributed 2326 articles as well as 124 obituary notices to The Field, quite apart from the innumerable “Answers to Correspondents” which he wrote so conscientiously on Natural History, Falconry, Angling, the Country House, Shooting, Antiquarian and Legal issues. His personal library was replete with books of reference and legal authorities. It was said there was nothing—either printed or manuscript—which he could not lay his hand on when needed.

Harting’s abilities as a naturalist were well known. He would have accompanied the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII.) to India as official naturalist if he had not felt it impossible just then to leave his wife and family. Harting edited The Zoologist from 1877 to 1896 and was probably the best living authority on British birds at that time. He was the Assistant Secretary and Librarian to the Linnæan Society of Burlington House, London and received numerous awards and recognition's during his lifetime, as well as being a member of numerous natural history societies: he was an Elected Fellow of the Linnæan Society; a Life member of the Zoological society; Member of The British Ornithological Society and a Corresponding Member of the American Ornithologists Union. In 1880 he was awarded a Silver Medal by The Acclimatisation Society of France “for publications”.

It was late in the 1870's that Harting, already an accomplished falconer, found his opportunity for starting a New Hawking Club with the objective of giving Londoners the opportunity to closely observe the practice of falconry. Salisbury Plain was of sufficient distance as to make it difficult for busy Londoner to afford the time to travel the distance necessary to observe the spring hawking of rooks and magpies. He had been a member of the well conducted but rather exclusive Old Hawking Club and felt that his New Hawking Club would attract new devotees and sponsors. He was able to purchase several fine peregrines and gyrfalcons from John Barr who had been in the service of Capt. Sandys Dugmore as a professional falconer while attempting to establish a hawking club at Alexandra Park from 1874-1877. He secured Barr’s services as a professional falconer and also obtained permission from Lord Rosebery to use Epsom Downs for their hawking grounds. He built his mews near the Grandstand of the racecourse and had a fine season in the fall of 1878—but the winter proved difficult and all the birds succumbed to the croaks, ending this venture.

James Edmund Harting had over a half-century experience with numerous hawks and his acquaintance with falconers was unique. He was a close friend of Reverend Gage Earl Freeman who wrote for the field as “Peregrine” and of course Major C. Hawkins Fisher and was always a welcome guest at either residence. As a teller of hawking stories he had no equal, and in his estimate of a hawk's capabilities he was seldom mistaken. However it was his acquaintance with the literature of falconry that he outstripped all rivals. The compilation of the Bibliotheca Accipitraria involved a Herculean effort over many years and this alone would secure a place at the forefront of falconers even if it had not been supplemented by the vast quantity of useful information supplied beginners and experts through the columns of The Field. He was one of the few men who, like E.B. Michell, was seen in London with a hawk on his fist.

James Edmund Harting died aged 85 on January 16th, 1928 in Weybridge, Surrey, where he had lived most of his life and is buried in the Town Cemetery just off Brooklands Road. The inscription on his headstone reads “ Pray for the Soul of Elizabeth Maria wife of James Edmund Harting of Weybridge, in the Co.[unty] of Surrey, who departed this life 25th Jan 1907. Also of James Edmund Harting Died 16th, January 1928 Aged 85 Years. Also Etheldreda Mary Harting Died 23rd, Jan 1942 Aged 71.” The Field obituary sums up the personality of Harting as follows: ‘J.E. Harting was modest and unassuming but he knew the value of knowledge, and never hesitated to use the authority of his long experience. By never presuming to know too much, he impressed the merit of his writing upon many a man of greater fame. He made very little money, for he worked for what he loved, because he loved it first as a sportsman and a gentleman, and he expected fair treatment, which he invariably extended to others’. Harting’s magnificent personal library was dispersed at his death at a sale by Hodgson & Co. on April 26th, 1928 and the remainder was given to Downside Abbey in 1934 by his surviving daughter-Etheldreda. Harting's son Hugh also attended Downside in 1880 followed by his great-great grandson James Harting Courtnay in 1977.

Harting was natural history editor of The Field from 1870 and editor of The Zoologist from 1877 to 1896.

His books included The Birds of Middlesex (1866), Rambles in Search of Shells (1876), Ostriches and Ostrich Farming (1877), British Animals extinct within Historic Times (1880) and A Catalogue of Books Ancient and Modern relating to Falconry (1891).