Biographical sketch of William Bollaert

Abstract

The author reviews the life and scientific and bibliographic activity of William Bollaert, English chemist born in Lymington, Hamshire, in 1807. Arrived in Peru in 1825, he settled the following year in the silver ore of Huantajaya, near Iquique, province of Tarapacá (I region), to carry out his tasks there as an assayer of the metals that were exported to England. Not content with this role, he traveled the entire territory of the province, studying geography, geology and mineralogy, as well as anthropological aspects (burials, geoglyphs, Changos Indians), which attracted his attention. His works related to the wars of succession in Spain and Portugal, about Texas, and the excellent drawings of his friend George Smith related to Tarapacá.