Thomas Vere Hodgson (1864–1926) was a biologist aboard H.M.S. ''Discovery'' during the ''Discovery'' Expedition of 1901–1904, known by the nickname ''Muggins''. He pursued his interest in

marine biology Marine biology is the scientific study of the biology of marine life, organisms in the sea. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies s ...

initially in his spare time, but eventually found work at the

Marine Biological Association The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (MBA) is a learned society with a scientific laboratory that undertakes research in marine biology. The organisation was founded in 1884 and has been based in Plymouth since the Citadel H ...

in Plymouth. He worked on the collections from the ''Southern Cross'' Expedition, before joining the Discovery expedition as one of its oldest members, at 37. The post of naturalist had previously been offered to

William Speirs Bruce William Speirs Bruce (1 August 1867 – 28 October 1921) was a British Natural history, naturalist, polar region, polar scientist and Oceanography, oceanographer who organized and led the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (SNAE, 1902–04) ...

, who declined, preferring to travel on the

Scottish National Antarctic Expedition The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (SNAE), 1902–1904, was organised and led by William Speirs Bruce, a natural scientist and former medical student from the University of Edinburgh. Although overshadowed in terms of prestige by Robe ...

. Hodgson's work on the ''Discovery'' provided the first descriptions of deep sea floor communities in the Antarctic. Hodgson was reappointed curator of the Plymouth Museum on his return and went on to study the collections from the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902–1904. He died in May 1926. The

National Marine Biological Library National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

at the Marine Biological Association holds some of Hodgson's scientific notes in the MBA Archive Collection. Cape Hodgson, the northernmost point of Black Island in the Ross Archipelago is named after Thomas Hodgson. Hodgson was a fellow of the Anthropological Institute.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hodgson, Thomas Vere People from Birmingham, West Midlands English explorers British polar explorers English marine biologists 1864 births 1926 deaths