Biographical entry: Elsey, Joseph Ravenscroft (1834 - 1857)

Born

1834

Died

1857

Summary

Papers, Photograph, 1855-1858. Soon after graduation from the Royal College of Surgeons in 1855 Elsey was appointed Surgeon and naturalist to the North Australian Exploring Expedition led by A.C. Gregory. The expedition which sailed from Sydney, reached the mouth of the Victoria River about the end of September. Elsey was concerned with scientific observations and the study and collection of birds and insects; his work drew praise from the expedition leader, from Gould, von Mueller and the zoologist. Gray. Elsey died in the West Indies in 1857 in his twenty-fourth year. The J.R. Elsey papers are arranged as follows:

1. Photograph.

2. Letter to his cousin Tom, from Victoria River, 13 April 1856, pp.71.

3. Diary 31 March 1855-25 January 1856, pp.72.

4. Letter, Herman Merivale to J.R. Elsey, 19 June 1857, photostat.

5. Letters from J.R. Elsey, manuscript copies, 3 items. National Library of Australia MS.25C.

Letter, Ferdinand von Mueller to J.R. Elsey's father, 20 May 1858, pp.4. National Library of Australia MS.176.