Exploring

Today D and I were in Thornhill and Penpont, taking photos.

Here is D sitting at the memorial to Joseph Thomson, which sits near Wallace Hall Academy in Thornhill. Thomson was born in Penpont in 1858 and became a pupil at Wallace Hall. After studying at Edinburgh University, he he became a geologist, travelling on and then leading expeditions of the Royal Geographical Society to various parts of Africa and making many important discoveries. He died at the early age of 37, having survived being gored by a buffalo and suffering malaria and dysentery, but later succumbing to cystitis, schistosomiasis and kidney problems.

Thomson is buried in Thornhill. Four species of animal are named after him, including the Thomson's gazelle.