Wild, John James (1824 - 1900)

Summary

John Wild (born Jean Jacques Wild) was a zoologist and illustrator who taught languages in Belfast for some years before being appointed to the ChallengerExpedition as artist and secretary to the chief scientist, Charles Thomson. During the Expedition Wild used the on-board laboratory to describe and illustrate marine specimens. His published contributions to the Expedition included a treatise on ocean conditions (Thalassa, 1877) and At anchor (1878). In 1881 Wild migrated to Victoria. Despite his wide experience in natural history and as an illustrator, finding employment proved difficult. For some while he lectured in modern languages at Trinity College, and was examiner in French and German matriculation. He came to the attention of Frederick McCoy, Professor of Natural History at the University of Melbourne, who engaged him to prepare lithographs of terrestrial and marine animals for his Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria (1885 - 1890). Wild's illustrations were notable for their precision and clarity. Other Victorian scientists who commissioned work from him included Baldwin Spencer.

Details

Chronology

1872 - 1876

Career position - Artist and secretary, Challenger Expedition

1881

Life event - Migrated to Victoria

Related entries

Published resources

Books

• McCoy, Frederick, Prodromus of the zoology of Victoria, or, figures and descriptions of the living species of all classes of the Victorian indigenous animals, 2 vols (Melbourne: Government Printer, 1885-1890). Details
• Wild, John James, Thalassa: an essay of the depth, temperature and currents of the ocean (London: Marcus Ward and Company, 1877), 140 pp, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/12972. Details
• Wild, John James, At anchor: a narrative of experiences afloat and ashore during the voyage of H.M.A. "Challenger" from 1872 to 1876 (London: Marcus Ward and Company, 1878), 198 pp, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/251284#page/9/mode/1up. Details

Journal Articles

• Spencer, W. Baldwin, 'The anatomy of Megascolides australis (the giant earth worm of Gippsland)', Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria, 1 (1) (1888), 1-47, 7 plates, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/113600#page/7/mode/1up. Details
• Wild, J. J., 'Outlines of anthropology', Report of the first meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science (1889), 442-7, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/53771#page/5/mode/1up. Details

Resources

• Museums Victoria, McCoy's zoology of Victoria: the artists, Museum Victoria, Carlton, 2026, https://museumsvictoria.com.au/discover/websites/caughtandcoloured/mccoys-zoology-of-victoria/the-artists/. Details

Resource Sections

• 'John James Wild (1812 - 1900)', in Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, 2026, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/wild-john-james-23177. Details