Francis Fox Tuckett

Francis Fox Tuckett ( born February 10, 1834 in Frenchay, Bristol, † June 20, 1913 ) was an English mountaineer who was primarily known for many first ascents in the Alps.

Life

Tuckett was born in 1834 in Frenchay near Bristol. His father, Francis Tuckett of Frenchay (1802-1868), was a world traveler, leather dealer, landscape artist, social reformer, philanthropist and Quaker. His mother Mariana (1807-1863) was a member of the influential Fox family of Falmouth ( Cornwall), daughter of businessman Robert Were Fox the Elder ( 1754-1818 ) and sister of the geologist and natural philosopher Robert Were Fox the Younger ( 1789-1877 ). Francis Fox was the oldest of five children and the only son of the couple. Tuckett went into his father's business and worked as a hobby farmer and antique dealer. As such, he was active in the Clifton Antiquarian Club and published, among other things Norwegian churches and Egyptology. For his alpine undertakings, he took about two to three months of vacation per year. Tuckett was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and always scientifically active. His collections can be found in the Pitt Rivers Museum. 1865 awarded him King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy the Order of Knights of St.. Mauritius and Lazarus for his contributions to the study of the Dolomites. From 1866 to 1868 Tuckett was Vice President of the Alpine Club in London. On January 17, 1896, he married 62 -year-old in New Zealand Alice Fox. 1913 died in Frenchay Tuckett and was buried in the Meeting House of the local Quaker community.

According to him the Tuckettspitze ( 3462 m) and the Tuckettjoch are ( Passo di Tuckett, 3354 m) named in the Ortler Alps, the Tucketthütte ( Rifugio Tuckett, 2271 m) in the Brenta and the pass Bocca del Tuckett ( 2648 m) in the Brenta and the Punta Tuckett ( 3804 m ) on the Grivola bear his name.

Alpinism

1842 Tuckett traveled in the company of his father for the first time in the Alps and visited the Mer de Glace in Chamonix. His first ascent was the Aletschhorn, the summit of which he reached on 18 June 1859, the leaders Josef Johann Benet, Peter Bohren and V. Tairraz. In the spirit of alpinism this time Tuckett already here put emphasis on not sacrificing itself in the most adverse conditions to performing scientific measurements. In 1861 he undertook the first experiments to develop a height suitable sleeping bag, which he continued successfully led over several years. In 1862 he lent his hand to the development of the Dauphiné Alps with Michel Croz, Peter Perren and Bartolommeo Peyrotte. The first ascent of the Barre des Ecrins planned ( 4102 m) was not successful, but he was able to cross several high passes for the first time.

1861 was Tuckett with Johann Josef Benet ( 1824-1864 ), Leslie Stephen and Melchior Anderegg and Peter Perren today's normal route to Mont Blanc. In 1864 he turned to the Dolomites. Along with Douglas William Freshfield he crossed without maps and with little equipment the Pala. This was regarded as exceptional alpine performance and was essential for the increasing awareness of the Dolomites in Alpinist circles at that time. In addition, he succeeded in the same year with TF and E.N. Buxton, Christian Michel and Franz Biner the first ascent of Monte Confinale ( 3370 m) and the crystal peaks ( 3480 m ) and the first confirmed ascent of the 3851 meter high peak king. A little later they found a new way to the Ortler ( 3905 m). In 1865, he was with Freshfield, James Backhouse, George Henry Fox, led by François Devouassoud and Peter Michel made ​​the first ascent of Pizzo Tresero ( 3594 m), the Punta San Matteo ( 3678 m), the Great Möseler ( 3478 m) and the Langtauferer top ( 3529 m) to perform. In 1871 he succeeded in the first ascent of the Cima Brenta ( 3151 m) with Douglas William Freshfield, led by Henri Devouassoud.

Edward Whymper designated Tuckett as "a great mountaineer ," the " throughout the Alps reputation '. Geoffrey Winthrop Young certified him an " encyclopedic access to mountain climbing ."

Work

• FF Tuckett: A Pioneer in the High Alps: Alpine Diaries and Letters of FF Tuckett, 1856-1874 ( London: E. Arnold, 1920)