James Hector (1834–1907) was a remarkable man. After an initial decade of explorations in Canada and New Zealand, he became foundation head of all the major national scientific organisations in New Zealand and their leader for a quarter of a century, as well as adviser to government on all manner of topics. Noted as the man who ‘knows all about everything’, he dominated the scientific scene in New Zealand for forty years. Mountains and a town were named after him, as were several species of plants and animals. Despite the accolades of the past, including Fellowship of the Royal Society [of London] in 1866 and a knighthood in 1887, he is now remembered mainly because of the campaign to save Hector’s dolphin. Hitherto, no comprehensive record of his life has been written. Like his contemporary explorer, Alfred Wallace, and their predecessor, Alexander von Humboldt, he had become a ‘lost hero of science’.
However, the huge task of researching his varied and fascinating life and writing a definitive biography has now been completed by Simon Nathan. Being both a geologist with field experience over much of New Zealand and a science historian, as well as having spent several years as a science administrator, Simon is well equipped to take on this task, and he has succeeded admirably. A symposium he helped to organise for the centenary of Hector’s death highlighted the gaps in knowledge about him, which Simon was determined to fill.