William Moorcroft

Background

William Moorcroft was born about 1767, in Ormskirk, Lancashire, the illegitimate son of Ann Moorcroft, daughter of a local farmer.

Education

Moorcroft was educated as a surgeon in Liverpool; but on completing his course he resolved to devote himself to veterinary surgery, and, after studying the subject in France, began practice in London.

Career

In 1795, he published a pamphlet of directions for the medical treatment of horses, with special reference to India, and in 1800 a "Cursory Account of the Method of Shoeing Horses". Having been offered by the East India Company the inspectorship of their Bengali stud, Moorcroft left England for India in 1808. Under his care the stud rapidly improved; in order to perfect the breed he resolved to undertake a journey into Central Asia to obtain a stock of Turkoman horses. In company with Captain William Hearsey, and encumbered with a stock of merchandise for the purpose of establishing trade relations between India and Central Asia, Moorcraft left Josimath, well within the mountains, on May 26, 1812. Proceeding along the valley of the Dauli, they reached the summit of the frontier pass of Niti on July 1. Descending by the towns of Darba and Gartok, Moorcroft struck the main upper branch of the Indus near its source, and on August 5 arrived at the sacred lake of Manasarowar. Returning by Bhutan, he was detained some time by the Ghurkas, and reached Calcutta in November. This journey only served to whet Moorcroft's appetite for more extensive travel, for which he prepared the way by sending out a young Hindu, who succeeded in making extensive explorations. In company with him and George Trebeck, Moorcroft set out on his second journey in October 1819. On August 14 the source of the Beas (Hyphasias) was discovered, and subsequently that of the Chenab. Leh, the capital of Ladakh, was reached on September 24, and here several months were spent in exploring the surrounding country. A commercial treaty was concluded with the government of Ladakh, by which the whole of Central Asia was virtually opened to British trade. Kashmir was reached on November 3, 1822, Jalalabad on June 4, 1824, Kabul on June 20, and Bokhara on February 25, 1825. At Andkhui, in Afghan Turkestan, Moorcraft was seized with fever, of which he died on August 27, 1825.

Achievements

• William Moorcroft was an acclaimed explorer, who travelled extensively throughout the Himalayas, Tibet and Central Asia, eventually reaching Bukhara, in present-day Uzbekistan.

Connections

Mother:

Ann Moorcroft