Makers and Shapers Profile
Details
Name
Alexander Wilmot
Type
Person
Dates of Existence
1836 - 1923
History
[Source - Benathi Marufu for FHYA, 2022, using S2A3 Biographical Database of Southern African Science website: John Alexander Wilmot, Cape parliamentarian and author and a leading Catholic layman, played an active role in church affairs, and regularly wrote for the South African Catholic Magazine. In 1911 he visited the Vatican and, in recognition of his services to the church and the poor, Pope Benedict XV made him a papal count and honoured him as a Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (KHS) and a Knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great (KSG).
Throughout his career he wrote numerous books and articles on a wide variety of subjects, though the geography and history of southern Africa were his main interests. However, on the latter subject his work was overshadowed by that of G.M. Theal. None the less several of his texts were used in schools for many years.]