John Francis Julius (Julius) von Haast
1822–87
German-born explorer and geologist. Travelled to New Zealand in 1858 to report on the prospects for German emigration. Explored the western districts of Nelson province at the request of the provincial government in 1859. Appointed geologist to Canterbury province, 1861. Conducted the first geological survey of Canterbury province, 1861–8. Became a British national in 1861. Founded the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury in 1862, and the Canterbury Museum in 1863. Professor of geology, Canterbury College, 1876–87. Member of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, 1879–87. Knighted, 1886. FRS 1867.
Sources
DNZB
DSB
H. F. von Haast 1948
ODNB
Bibliography
DNZB: A dictionary of New Zealand biography. Edited by G. H. Scholefield. 2 vols. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Internal Affairs. 1940. The dictionary of New Zealand biography. Edited by W. H. Oliver et al. 5 vols. Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Internal Affairs [and others]. 1990–2000.
DSB: Dictionary of scientific biography. Edited by Charles Coulston Gillispie and Frederic L. Holmes. 18 vols. including index and supplements. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 1970–90.
Haast, Heinrich Ferdinand von. 1948. The life and times of Sir Julius von Haast, explorer, geologist, museum builder. Wellington, New Zealand: privately published.
ODNB: Oxford dictionary of national biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000. (Revised edition.) Edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. 60 vols. and index. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2004.
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