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Francis Henry Buzzacott (1861-1947) was an American hunter, conservationist, army scout, and explorer famous for writing the Hunter's and Trapper's Complete Guide and the Complete American and Canadian Sportsman's Encyclopedia, better known today as Buzzacott's Masterpiece.

Early life

Francis Buzzacott was born on Christmas Day 1861 to Welsh immigrant parents, Henry Buzzacott (1833-99) and Eliza Turner (born 1838). His father, Henry Buzzacott, also worked as a hunter and trapper after the Civil War and assisted Francis in drafting his Masterpiece.[2]

Career

During the Indian Wars of the 1870s, Buzzacott worked as a guide, trapper and frontiersman in the American West. In between expeditions, he found employment as a seal hunter in Canada, sailor on a whaleboat, and commercial fisherman. Later in life he became interested in human sexuality, and published a scientific study of bisexuality and human hermaphrodites in 1914.[3]

Expeditions

As an explorer and guide with over 40 years' experience, Buzzacott participated in many expeditions during the late Victorian era. These included the British South African Expedition of 1879, Jeannette expedition of 1879–81, Lady Franklin Bay Expedition of 1881–84, and the Walter Wellman Polar Expedition of 1906. He was also a member of the American Geological Society, National Rifle Association of America, and the National Geographic Association.[4]

Military service

From 1885 to 1898, Buzzacott enlisted in the American army as a scout. He saw action in the Spanish-American War and Philippine–American War. In 1899 he testified at the embalmed beef scandal.[5] He became a supporter of the temperance movement after witnessing the effects of excessive alcohol consumption on his fellow soldiers. During the 1890s he invented a portable bread oven for the US Army.[6] After leaving the army he was involved with the early Boy Scout movement in America.[7][8]

Death

Buzzacott died in Lake City, Florida, in 1947. He was survived by his wife Tillie Van Luranee (born 1868) and three daughters Beatrice (1892-1979), Tillie (1892-1980) and Lillian (born 1894).[9]

Publications

Book frontispiece from Buzzacott's Complete American and Canadian Sportsman's Encyclopedia of Valuable instruction, with photograph of the author in 1913.
  • Hunter's and Trapper's Complete Guide, 1903
  • Complete Fisherman's and Angler's Manual, 1903[10]
  • Complete American and Canadian Sportsman's Encyclopedia of Valuable instruction, 1905[11]
  • Totem Club Boys' Handbook, 1912
  • Buzzacott's Masterpiece, 1913[12]
  • Mystery of the Sexes, 1913
  • Bisexual Man, or Evolution of the Sexes, 1914
  • Lost Arts of the Sportsman, reprinted 2013[13]

References

  1. ^ How to catch a pig
  2. ^ Popular mechanics 1912
  3. ^ Telegraph Age
  4. ^ Buzzacott, Complete American and Canadian Sportsmens encyclopedia 1913, page 3
  5. ^ US congress report 1899
  6. ^ Complete American and Canadian Sportsman's Encyclopedia, page 499
  7. ^ John Bogert (July 25, 2009). "JOHN BOGERT: Pocket-sized volume offers window on manhood lost to time". San Bernardino Sun. MediaNews Group. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  8. ^ Survivor Library
  9. ^ Francis Buzacott ancestry
  10. ^ Fisherman's and Angler's Manual
  11. ^ Complete American and Canadian Sportsman's Encyclopedia
  12. ^ Buzzacott's Masterpiece at Hathi trust
  13. ^ Lost arts of the sportsman
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