Ogilby, J. Douglas (James Douglas), 1853-1925

James Douglas Ogilby was born 16 February 1853, in Belfast, Ireland. His parents were William Ogilby, zoologist, and Adelaide Ogilby, nee Douglas. James Ogilby was educated at Winchester College, England, and later at Trinity College, Dublin. He married Mary Jane Jameson 24 November 1884, at the parish church, Donaghanie, County Tyrone.

Ogilby emigrated to Australia following his marriage to take up the position of scientific assistant (zoology) at the Australian Museum, commencing 14 February 1885. He was a prolific researcher and writer, publishing many notes, papers and reports on fishes, reptiles and mammals. He was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1887. In 1890 he was dismissed from the Australian Museum for drunkenness on the job. Following this, Ogilby continued his research activities, publishing "Catalogue of Australian mammals" (1892), and "Edible fishes and crustaceans of New South Wales" (1893).

Ogilby?s wife Mary died in 1894, without issue. About 1903 Ogilby moved to Brisbane, where he was employed by the Queensland Museum as an ichthyologist. His most valuable work was done in ichthyology. He published a series of papers on the edible fishes of Queensland in the "Memoirs" of the Queensland Museum (1913-1916), and also published "The Commercial fishes and fisheries of Queensland : an essay" (1915).

Ogilby died 11 August 1925 in the Diamantina Hospital. He is buried in Toowong Cemetery.

Information sourced from "Australian Dictionary of Biography" (1988) vol 11.