Leslie Jefferis Tarlton (29 July 1877 – 27 October 1951) was an Australian big game hunter and entrepreneur in British East Africa. He was the leader of numerous safaris, including the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition of 1909–1910.
Leslie Jefferis Tarlton (29 July 1877 – 27 October 1951) was an Australian big game hunter and entrepreneur in British East Africa. He was the leader of numerous safaris, including the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition of 1909–1910.
Leslie Tarlton was born in Somerton, Glenelg, South Australia to Robert Tarlton, a banker and politician. He first attended Prince Alfred's College, Adelaide. In 1889 the family moved to Tasmania, hoping the climate would alleviate the eldest son Tatham 's tuberculosis. Leslie was attending Launceston High School in Tasmania at the time. As his brother's health continued to deteriorate, he moved to the Transvaal Highlands in the South African Republic. In 1894, also encouraged by the news of gold discoveries in the Transvaal, Robert Tarlton and his large family followed. Tatham died that same year, but the Tarltons stayed in South Africa. The three eldest of the surviving sons, including Leslie, enlisted in the first contingent of the South Australian Mounted Rifles and fought in the Second Boer War. [1]
After the war, numerous British veterans, including Leslie, his brother Henry and an Adelaide friend Victor Newland, trekked around British East Africa and German East Africa as soldiers of fortune. Some bought land or got a place in the soldiers' camps in British East Africa, others hired themselves out as guides for wealthy tourists from Europe and the United States. The Tarlton brothers and Newland arrived in Nairobi in 1903, which had been established a few years earlier as a railroad warehouse and supply depot. The city at that time was just a collection of tin sheds. [1]
In 1904 the Tarltons and Newland were able to raise a seed capital of £200 with which they founded Newland , Tarlton & Co. The company was the first professional safari outfitter and quickly found great success organizing safaris for European and American hunting tourists. Leslie Tarlton was responsible for the organization at "N & T" and left the finances to Victor Newland. Tarlton personally accompanied expeditions by important customers, such as that of Carl and Delia Akeley in 1906. He was an excellent hunter of Cape buffalo, elephant and rhino, but his high reputation was based on his skill at lion hunting. Hunting lions was particularly dangerous. Twice Tarlton was injured by a charging lion and several of his hunters lost their lives on the job. [1] [2] [3]
Tarlton's most important expedition was the Smithsonian–Roosevelt African expedition from April 1909 to March 1910, in which he served as hunter and guide. Theodore Roosevelt was leader of the expedition and wanted to take over the organization himself. Only after being urged by Frederick Selous did he give in and hand over the organization to Newland, Tarlton & Co. in Nairobi. The expedition was led by Richard John Cuninghame, who was recommended to Roosevelt as the best elephant hunter in Africa. [4] Roosevelt followed Cuninghame's advice and hired a second white hunter, Tarlton, as his "adjutant" for the time in East Africa, since no one could lead a year-long expedition with 250 men alone. Tarlton occasionally went on short hunting trips away from the large group with Kermit Roosevelt. [5] [6] Kermit Roosevelt later stated that Cuninghame's marksmanship matched that of his father. But both were surpassed by Tarlton. [7] The enormous number of animals shot meant that Edmund Heller, who was also employed as a taxidermist, often had to be assisted by Cuninghame. Occasionally Tarlton had to be called in for this work as well. [3]
The route ran from Mombasa in British East Africa to the Belgian Congo, on to the Nile and up the river to Khartoum. More than 11,000 animals were shot or captured during the voyage, including nearly 5,000 mammals and nearly 4,000 birds. Theodore Roosevelt and his son Kermit shot 512 big game alone. Throughout the expedition Cuninghame was responsible for the selection and guidance of the almost 200 porters as well as the askari and the servants for weapons, horses and tents, assisted by Tarlton. [8] A few months after the expedition, in July 1910, Tarlton traveled to the United States. He visited Roosevelt's ranch and was shown the first American national parks. [1]
In 1925 Tarlton led the US bow hunter Saxton Pope on a lion hunt. Pope shot seven lions with his bow. However, Tarlton forbade him from bow hunting buffalo, elephant and rhino because he was concerned that Pope could only wound an animal and provoke an attack. In the 1930s Leslie Tarlton ran safaris for the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII ) and the Duke of York (later George VI).
The Tarltons took an active part in the life of the white upper class in British East Africa. Leslie Tarlton's brother Henry was considered one of the best jockeys in the colony. [9]
A safari is an overland journey to observe wild animals, especially in East Africa. The so-called "Big Five" game animals of Africa – lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo – particularly form an important part of the safari market, both for wildlife viewing and big-game hunting.
Kermit Roosevelt Sr. MC was an American businessman, soldier, explorer, and writer. A son of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, Kermit graduated from Harvard College, served in both World Wars, and explored two continents with his father. He fought a lifelong battle with depression and died by suicide while serving in the US Army in Alaska during World War II.
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White hunter is a literary term used for professional big game hunters of European descent, from all over the world, who plied their trade in Africa, especially during the first half of the 20th century. The activity continues in the dozen African countries which still permit big-game hunting. White hunters derived their income from organizing and leading safaris for paying clients, or from the sale of ivory.
Sir Alfred Edward Pease, 2nd Baronet, was a British Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1902 and who became a pioneer settler of British East Africa, now Kenya.
Roosevelt in Africa is a film by Cherry Kearton, released in 1910. It is a documentary about the Smithsonian–Roosevelt African Expedition, featuring Theodore Roosevelt in Africa. It is shot in silent black and white.
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Victor Marra Newland, was an Australian army officer and politician. He served in the Second Boer War and with the King's African Rifles in the First World War, was decorated for his service in each, and retired with the rank of major. He was formerly a member of the Legislative Council of British East Africa, and in 1933 became the representative for North Adelaide in the South Australian House of Assembly.
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The Winchester Model 1895 is an American lever-action repeating firearm developed and manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the late 19th century, chambered for a number of full-size military and hunting cartridges such as 7.62×54mmR, .303 British, .30-03, .30 Army, .30-06, .35 Winchester, .38-72 Winchester, .40-72 Winchester and .405 Winchester.
James Lippitt Clark was a distinguished American explorer, sculptor and scientist.
The .405 Winchester / 10.45x65mmR is a rimmed centerfire rifle cartridge introduced in 1904 for the Winchester 1895 lever-action rifle. It remains to this day one of the most powerful rimmed cartridges designed specifically for lever-action rifles; the only modern lever action cartridges that exceed its performance are the .50 Alaskan, .450 Alaskan, .475 Turnbull, .348 Turnbull, and the .450 Marlin. The .405 was highly regarded by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt during his safari in East Africa.
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Peter C. "Pete" Pearson was an Australian-born game ranger, poacher, and professional hunter in East Africa.