Viscount Grey of Fallodon, K. G., F. R. S

Viscount Grey of Fallodon, K. G. was elected into the Royal Society on 26 November 1914 under Statute 12; his proposer was the then President, Sir William Crookes. His citation makes no mention of his ability as a naturalist or of his genius in winning the confidence of wild creatures. I met him first as Visitor of my College, Balliol, and in 19271 took my wife and son Christopher to have tea with him at Fallodon, where his little estate and his ducks were protected against vermin by a high wall with a small wicket gate through which you entered. We left the car outside and rang the bell. Before the door opened we became aware of the peaceful and trustful atmosphere of Fallodon when a small green parrot, like those that live in the walls of the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri, near Agra, fluttered down on to my wife’s shoulder. We went into Grey's study where a brown squirrel was eating nuts on the writing table

Archaeology · Art · Art history · Banquet · Creatures · Genius · Natural (archaeology) · Political science · Regent · Sociology · Wife · Health and Conflict Studies · History · Law