Francis William Rogers Brambell, 1901-1970

Francis William Rogers Brambell was born on 25 February 1901 at Combridge House, Sandycove, Co. Dublin. His family tree is best set out in diagram (see the table on the next page). As he said himself, he could not remember a time when natural history was not his chief interest, nor did he know who inspired this interest, unless it was his maternal grandfather, F. W. Rogers, who certainly encouraged it. Rock pools on the shore, the rubbish brought in by fishing boats, insects, birds and other animals absorbed much of his attention after he was five or six years old. When Brambell was eleven T. P. Le Fanu introduced him to R. M. Barrington of Fassaroe, whose influence was probably decisive in developing his bent for natural history. Brambell went with Barrington and his children on ornithological expeditions, had the free run of Barrington’s collection of bird skins, and through him got to know most of the Irish naturalists of the time. He was, Brambell says, a grand field naturalist with an extraordinary gift for inspiring young people. At thirteen Brambell started seriously collecting bird skins. He never, he says, ever had any encouragement in biology or any other branch of science from his school.