As surgeon and geologist to the Palliser
Expedition from 1857 to 1860, Hector explored the country from the Red
River settlement (Winnipeg) to Vancouver Island. He made many important
observations regarding the geology and ethnology of the Canadian West and
the Rocky Mountains and discovered the important Kicking Horse Pass (Yes,
he's the one who got kicked.) which later became the route of the Canadian
Pacific Railway.
Appointed geologist to the New Zealand Government in 1861, he later became
director of the meteorological department of the New Zealand Institute and
of the colonial museum and botanical gardens in Wellington. He became one
of New Zealand's leading citizens.
But following his retirement in 1903, a return trip to Canada had a tragic ending.
Would you like to know more about the life
of James Hector?