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George Adamson

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George Adamson Famous memorial

Birth
Uttar Pradesh, India
Death
20 Aug 1989 (aged 83)
Kora National Park, Tana River, Kenya
Burial
Kora National Park, Tana River, Kenya Add to Map
Plot
Cremated, ashes interred next to the grave of Boy The Lion
Memorial ID
View Source
Scientist. Born in Etawah, then British India, to Harry and Katherine Adamson. As a youth George attended a boarding school in England. He first visited Kenya in 1924. After a series of jobs, which included time as a gold prospector, goat trader, and professional safari hunter, he joined Kenya's game department in 1938 and was Senior Game Warden of the Northern Frontier District. Six years later, he married Joy. It was in 1956 that he raised the lioness cub, Elsa, who became the subject of the 1966 feature film Born Free. In 1968 he vividly described these adventures in his fascinating biography titled 'Bwana Game'(European title) and in the USA titled 'A Lifetime With Lions'. His 2nd book published in 1986 is an equally fascinating autobiography titled 'My Pride and Joy'. In April 1961 George retired from his position as Senior Game Warden of the Northern Frontier Province of Kenya (Meru National Park area), to devote himself to working with lions. His work was supported for the Royal Geographical Society and the National Museums of Kenya, among others. George was on his way to pick up visitors at his dirt airstrip when his Land-Rover was attacked by gunfire from three bandits, it is believed they were Somalis. Ethnic Somalis have been blamed for most robberies in remote areas of Kenya. Two of George's Kenyan assistants, who were with him in the vehicle, were also killed. At George's funeral 12 uniformed game rangers raised their rifles to their shoulders and fired a volley into the air. The stillness of the afternoon was shattered by this final mark of respect to conservationist. Two of the rangers played the Last Post as George was buried beside his brother, Terence, who died two years earlier, and close to the graves of two of his beloved lions who had helped to make George and his wife Joy, a household name around the world. He is buried in the Kora National Park near to his brother Terrance, Super Cub and his beloved lion friend Boy. He was 83 years old at the time of his murder.
Scientist. Born in Etawah, then British India, to Harry and Katherine Adamson. As a youth George attended a boarding school in England. He first visited Kenya in 1924. After a series of jobs, which included time as a gold prospector, goat trader, and professional safari hunter, he joined Kenya's game department in 1938 and was Senior Game Warden of the Northern Frontier District. Six years later, he married Joy. It was in 1956 that he raised the lioness cub, Elsa, who became the subject of the 1966 feature film Born Free. In 1968 he vividly described these adventures in his fascinating biography titled 'Bwana Game'(European title) and in the USA titled 'A Lifetime With Lions'. His 2nd book published in 1986 is an equally fascinating autobiography titled 'My Pride and Joy'. In April 1961 George retired from his position as Senior Game Warden of the Northern Frontier Province of Kenya (Meru National Park area), to devote himself to working with lions. His work was supported for the Royal Geographical Society and the National Museums of Kenya, among others. George was on his way to pick up visitors at his dirt airstrip when his Land-Rover was attacked by gunfire from three bandits, it is believed they were Somalis. Ethnic Somalis have been blamed for most robberies in remote areas of Kenya. Two of George's Kenyan assistants, who were with him in the vehicle, were also killed. At George's funeral 12 uniformed game rangers raised their rifles to their shoulders and fired a volley into the air. The stillness of the afternoon was shattered by this final mark of respect to conservationist. Two of the rangers played the Last Post as George was buried beside his brother, Terence, who died two years earlier, and close to the graves of two of his beloved lions who had helped to make George and his wife Joy, a household name around the world. He is buried in the Kora National Park near to his brother Terrance, Super Cub and his beloved lion friend Boy. He was 83 years old at the time of his murder.

Bio by: Shock



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: John Sheets
  • Added: Jan 15, 2003
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7086671/george-adamson: accessed ), memorial page for George Adamson (3 Feb 1906–20 Aug 1989), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7086671, citing George Adamson Gravesite, Kora National Park, Tana River, Kenya; Maintained by Find a Grave.