Thomas Heazle Parke was the first Irishman to cross Africa. He accompanied the explorer Henry Morton Stanley in 1887 on his expedition to reach and free the besieged Emin Pasha. People in Dublin pass his statute everyday, which stands outside the Natural History Museum on Merrion Square and the majority would not know the achievements of this revered and extraordinary man from Leitrim.
Parke was born in Clogher House, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon in 1857 and was the second son of William Parke and his wide Henrietta Holmes. He entered the RCSI in 1875 and took the LRCSI in 1878. He took the LKQCPI (Kings and Queen's College) the following year. He joined the Army Medical Department in 1881 when 23 years old and continued in service until the time of his death. Parke was posted to Egypt in 1882 and served in all the Egyptian and Soudan campaigns; Tel-el-Kebir campaign 1882; Nile campaign 1884-1885; Metemnh; Khartoum.
In 1886 Henry Morton Stanley, the explorer, arrived in Alexandria and began to organise the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition (1886-1889). Parke was appointed Medical Officer on this expedition. The route went through the Congo (Zaire) to Lake Albert where Emin Pasha, the German-born Governor of Equatoria was rescued. The expedition continued on where they arrived safely in Zanzibar in 1889. Parke is credited with saving Stanley on at least two occasions in their expedition and his skills as a physician were highly praised and rewarded.
Stanley recognised the immense talent and skills Parke possessed as a surgeon. Stanley while talking about events in Kavalli in March 1889 said
'The expedition possesses the rarest doctor in the world. No country in Europe can produce his equal, in my opinion. There may be many more learned, perhaps more skilful, older or younger as the case may be, but the best of them have something to learn from our doctor. He is such a combination of sweetness and simplicity. So unostentatious, so genuinely unobtrusive. We are all bound to him with cords of love. We have seen him do so much out of pure love for his "cases" that human nature becomes ennobled by this gem. He is tenderness itself. He has saved many lives by his devoted nursing.'
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Upon the expedition's return from Africa, numerous honours were bestowed on the members, including the British Medical Association Gold Medal.
Parke was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1889. 'My Experiences in Equatorial Africa' written by Parke with huge guidance from his friend John Freeman Knott (1853-1921) was published in 1891. The diaries kept by Parke on this expedition make up a part of the Thomas Heazle Parke Collection (RCSI/IP/Parke) housed in the College. The collection also contains newspaper cuttings, photographs, correspondence and personal artefacts. Three of which can be seen in the image below. This ivory handled dagger and two ivory bracelets were given to Parke by a pygmy woman who had joined the expedition while it made its way through the Congo.
The uniform Parke wears in the photo on the right is part of the National Museum of Ireland's 'Soldiers and Chiefs' collection.
Unfortunately Parke did not live long enough to enjoy the fame and recognition he was receiving for his medical deeds on the expedition. While visiting the Duke of St. Albans at Alt-na-Craig in Scotland in 1893 he fell ill and died suddenly on 10th September. Thomas Parke was only 36 years of age. He is buried in Drumsna, County Leitrim.
This extraordinarily talented Irish surgeon and explorer should not be forgotten. So next time you pass by the Natural History Museum recount to those with you the amazing life of this remarkable Leitrim man, Thomas Heazle Parke.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy
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| Statue of Thomas Heazle Parke outside the Natural History Museum, Dublin |
Parke was born in Clogher House, Kilmore, Co. Roscommon in 1857 and was the second son of William Parke and his wide Henrietta Holmes. He entered the RCSI in 1875 and took the LRCSI in 1878. He took the LKQCPI (Kings and Queen's College) the following year. He joined the Army Medical Department in 1881 when 23 years old and continued in service until the time of his death. Parke was posted to Egypt in 1882 and served in all the Egyptian and Soudan campaigns; Tel-el-Kebir campaign 1882; Nile campaign 1884-1885; Metemnh; Khartoum.
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| Thomas Heazle Parke (1857-1893) |
In 1886 Henry Morton Stanley, the explorer, arrived in Alexandria and began to organise the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition (1886-1889). Parke was appointed Medical Officer on this expedition. The route went through the Congo (Zaire) to Lake Albert where Emin Pasha, the German-born Governor of Equatoria was rescued. The expedition continued on where they arrived safely in Zanzibar in 1889. Parke is credited with saving Stanley on at least two occasions in their expedition and his skills as a physician were highly praised and rewarded.
Stanley recognised the immense talent and skills Parke possessed as a surgeon. Stanley while talking about events in Kavalli in March 1889 said
'The expedition possesses the rarest doctor in the world. No country in Europe can produce his equal, in my opinion. There may be many more learned, perhaps more skilful, older or younger as the case may be, but the best of them have something to learn from our doctor. He is such a combination of sweetness and simplicity. So unostentatious, so genuinely unobtrusive. We are all bound to him with cords of love. We have seen him do so much out of pure love for his "cases" that human nature becomes ennobled by this gem. He is tenderness itself. He has saved many lives by his devoted nursing.'
- NCBI
Upon the expedition's return from Africa, numerous honours were bestowed on the members, including the British Medical Association Gold Medal.
 |
| British Medical Association Gold Medal awarded to Thomas Heazle Parke |
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| British Medical Association Gold Medal Certificate awarded to Thomas Heazle Parke |
Parke was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1889. 'My Experiences in Equatorial Africa' written by Parke with huge guidance from his friend John Freeman Knott (1853-1921) was published in 1891. The diaries kept by Parke on this expedition make up a part of the Thomas Heazle Parke Collection (RCSI/IP/Parke) housed in the College. The collection also contains newspaper cuttings, photographs, correspondence and personal artefacts. Three of which can be seen in the image below. This ivory handled dagger and two ivory bracelets were given to Parke by a pygmy woman who had joined the expedition while it made its way through the Congo.
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| RCSI/IP/Parke/6/21 and 6/22 |
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| Thomas Heazle Parke in his expedition uniform |
The uniform Parke wears in the photo on the right is part of the National Museum of Ireland's 'Soldiers and Chiefs' collection.
Unfortunately Parke did not live long enough to enjoy the fame and recognition he was receiving for his medical deeds on the expedition. While visiting the Duke of St. Albans at Alt-na-Craig in Scotland in 1893 he fell ill and died suddenly on 10th September. Thomas Parke was only 36 years of age. He is buried in Drumsna, County Leitrim.
This extraordinarily talented Irish surgeon and explorer should not be forgotten. So next time you pass by the Natural History Museum recount to those with you the amazing life of this remarkable Leitrim man, Thomas Heazle Parke.
- Researched and written by Meadhbh Murphy