Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Beresford Seymour Sewell

 

Early Life

Sewell was born on March 5, 1880, in Leamington, Warwickshire, to Reverend Arthur Sewell and Mary Lee (née Waring). His academic journey included studies at University College London under Raphael Weldon, followed by Christ's College, Cambridge, where he earned a BA in 1902. He continued his medical training at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, qualifying in 1907.

Medical Career and World War I

Commissioned into the Indian Medical Service in 1908, Sewell quickly advanced, becoming a Captain in 1911. He initially served as a medical officer with Punjabi regiments and later specialized as a malaria officer. During World War I, he served in Mesopotamia, earning recognition for his contributions and being mentioned in dispatches in 1917. His rank advanced to Major in 1919 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1927. From 1911 to 1913, he also taught at Calcutta Medical College.

Zoological Contributions

Sewell's zoological interests became prominent through his role as Surgeon Naturalist aboard the RIMS Investigator from 1910 to 1925, focusing on marine biology, particularly the taxonomy of copepods. He worked on initiatives to control malaria using specific fish species. After retiring from the Indian Medical Service in 1933, he led the Zoological Survey of India and the John Murray Expedition into the Indian Ocean. His work significantly contributed to The Fauna of British India series.

Legacy

Sewell's combined medical and zoological expertise left a lasting impact. He was recognized with honors such as the Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE). He passed away on February 11, 1964, in Cambridge.

 

 Sources:

  1. Pantin, C. F. A. (1965). Robert Beresford Seymour Sewell 1880–1964. Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 11, 146–155. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.1965.0010

  2. R. B. Seymour Sewell - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._B._Seymour_Sewell

  3. HowOld.co. (n.d.). R. B. Seymour Sewell Biography. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://www.howold.co/person/r-b-seymour-sewell/biography

Back to blog