George Vernon Hudson
George Vernon Hudson FRSNZ (20 April 1867 - 5 April 1946) was a pioneering New Zealand entomologist, astronomer, and naturalist best known for proposing modern daylight saving time.[1][3] Born in London, his multifaceted career bridged insect collection, stellar observations, and innovative time reforms, leaving a lasting legacy in science.
Early Life and Immigration
Hudson was born on Easter Saturday, 20 April 1867, as the sixth child of Charles Hudson, a professional artist and designer in London.[2] From a young age, he displayed prodigious curiosity.
By age 11, he had donated his first insect collection to the British Museum Library and recorded a solar eclipse alongside weather notes.[2] In his teens, Hudson emigrated to New Zealand, where he channeled his passions into studying the country's unique native insects.
Entomological Contributions
Upon arriving in New Zealand, Hudson immersed himself in entomology, amassing the largest insect collection in the country, now preserved at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[3] His magnum opus, The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand, spanned 24 years of meticulous work.
Hudson not only identified and illustrated species but also conducted rearing experiments to document life histories of Lepidoptera and other insects.[2]
In 1907, he joined the Sub-Antarctic Islands Scientific Expedition aboard the Hinemoa, serving as entomologist. The team surveyed Auckland and Campbell Islands, discovering 61 insect species-many illustrated in Dr.
Charles Chilton's volumes-and rescued castaways from the wrecked Dundonald.[1][3] Hudson led local collecting trips around Wellington, fostering enthusiasm among amateurs.
- Developed a personal coding system for thousands of species records (1881-1946), now being crowdsourced for digitization by Te Papa.[3]
- Criticized formal education, hosting informal meetings at home for boys interested in insects and astronomy.[1]
- Awarded the Hector Memorial Medal in 1923 for his naturalist work.[3]
Astronomy and Innovations
Hudson's astronomical pursuits began in 1885 with his first telescope, observing a total solar eclipse.[2] By 1904, he built a backyard observatory at his Wellington home, "Hillview," equipped with a 4-inch telescope.
It drew crowds during Halley's Comet in 1910 and for his daily sunspot studies published in local papers.[1][2]
On 9 June 1918, Hudson discovered Nova Aquilae, a bright new star that captured global attention.[1][2] Yet his most enduring idea stemmed from shift work as a civil servant: valuing evening daylight for bug-hunting.
In 1895, he proposed a two-hour seasonal clock shift to the Wellington Philosophical Society-initially ridiculed-but revived in 1898 amid Christchurch interest.[1][3] Parliamentarian T. K. Sidey trialed one-hour summer time in 1927, vindicating Hudson. In 1933, he shared the inaugural T. K. Sidey Medal with Ernest Rutherford.[1][3]
Key Achievements Table
| Year | Achievement | Field |
|---|---|---|
| 1885 | First telescope purchase; solar eclipse observation | Astronomy |
| 1895 | Proposed daylight saving time (2-hour shift) | Time Reform |
| 1907 | Sub-Antarctic expedition; 61 insects discovered | Entomology |
| 1910 | Hosted public viewings of Halley's Comet | Astronomy |
| 1918 | Discovered Nova Aquilae | Astronomy |
| 1923 | Hector Memorial Medal | Entomology |
| 1933 | T.
K. Sidey Medal (shared) |
Time Reform |
Legacy and Personal Life
Hudson challenged institutionalized science through newspaper letters and accessible books requiring no formal training.[1] He died at home on 5 April 1946, survived by his daughter; his wife Florence predeceased him in 1935.[1] Ranked among New Zealand's pioneer naturalists, his work continues to inspire-Te Papa's 2018 project deciphers his coded notebooks for modern conservation.[3]
Imagine the thrill of spotting a nova under Wellington skies or advocating for more sunset hours to chase butterflies.
Hudson's self-taught drive reminds us that curiosity often outpaces convention.
Timeline Graph (ASCII Representation)
1867 1885 1895 1907 1910 1918 1923 1933 1946
| | | | | | | | |
Birth--Telescope- DST--Exped- Comet-Nova--Medal Medal Death
Prop.
ition Viewing Disc.
Hector S. Sidey
This simple timeline highlights Hudson's major milestones, from birth to entomological and astronomical peaks.[1][2][3]