Boyle Somerville

Born 7 September 1863 and joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1877. Trained as a Hydrographic Surveyor, promoted to Captain in 1912 and Vice Admiral on 1 August 1919. Retired 2 August 1919. While on Surveying duties in Western Pacific made significant collection of ethnographic artefacts in Solomon Islands - now in Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. In 1908 while surveying in British waters read a book suggesting Stone Circles, Standing Stones etc might have astronomical significance. Thereafter devoted much time to surveying such monuments in Britain, Ireland and elsewhere and became a recognised expert in the field. Contributed papers to the 'Antiquarian' magazine. After his retirement returned to the family home at Castletownshend, near Cork in Ireland. On 24 March 1936 was murdered by the IRA for providing assistance to local men who wanted to join the Royal Navy.

Publications: 'Ocean Passages for the World.' Published for Hydrographic Dept., Admiralty, by HMSO (1923) 'The Chart-Makers.' Blackwell & Sons. (1928) 'Commodore Anson's Voyage into the South Seas and Around the World.' Heinemann. (1934) 'Will Mariner.' Faber & Faber. (1936) 'Records of the Somerville Family of Castlehaven & Drishane from 1174 to 1940' (with Edith Somerville). Published by Guy & Co, Cork, 1940