Papers of: Wallich, George Charles (1815-1899)

The collection centres on Wallich's work on biology, particularly marine biology, and his belief that other figures in the field were ignoring or plagiarising his discoveries. As well as his notes, it includes a collection of offprints by Wallich (MS.4969) and a collection of offprints by other scientists, with Wallich's comments (MS.4970).

George Wallich was born in 1815, the son of the Danish (later naturalised British) botanist Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854). He qualified M.D. in Edinburgh in 1834 and served in the Indian Medical Service. He also wrote on marine biology. In the latter field he was increasingly convinced that his claims to primacy in various research discoveries were being ignored, and engaged in feuds with various scientific figures of the day. He died in 1899.

MSS.4962-4968 comprise Wallich's own notes, held in so far as this can be established in chronological order of composition. MSS.4969-4970 comprise offprints of publications: by Wallich (MS.4969) and by other scientists, with Wallich's comments (MS.4970).

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Purchased from Stevens', London, August 1930 (accession number 75493).

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973). Detailed catalogue available at http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/.

holograph notes with printed cuttings and offprints of publications.

description compiled by Christopher Hilton based upon those in the Library's published finding aid by S.A.J. Moorat.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

The Wellcome Library holds MS.7805 comprising a collection of letters by Wallich and his father Nathaniel Wallich (1786-1854), primarily the latter; MS.7830/32, a letter from William Jack (1795-1822) to Nathaniel Wallich, mentioning George Wallich.