  james stevenson-hamilton (1867â1957) served from 1902â1946 as the first warden of south africa's sabi nature reserve, which was expanded under his watch and became kruger national park in 1926. ==early life and military career== james stevenson-hamilton was born in dublin, ireland on october 2, 1867. as the eldest of nine children, he was the legal heir to the family title and home at fairholm, near larkhall in scotland. he was educated at rugby and sandhurst and opted for a career in the military. he stationed himself briefly on the banks of the crocodile river in south africa, familiarizing himself with the land and animals, but soon moved and settled at sabi bridge, which is now called skukuza. serving as part of the 6th (inniskilling) dragoon guards, âhe saw active service with the inniskillings in natal in 1888â. (accessed 8 october 2011) in 1898, he joined the cape-to-cairo expedition under the leadership of major alfred st. hill gibbons. after they had "tried to steam up the zambesi in flat bottomed launches and fought their way well beyond the kariba gorgeâ, they had to abandon their boats and explore barotseland on foot. stevenson-hamilton then âtrekked across northern rhodesia to the kafue.âcartwright, a.p. 1960. south africa's hall of fame south africa: central news agency limited. oclc: 750076726 after the expedition, he returned to the military and fought in the second anglo-boer war (1899-1901), receiving both the queen's south africa medal and the king's south africa medal for his service. he was promoted to brevet major in november 1900. ==history of the sabi nature reserve==  stephanus johannes paulus kruger, commonly known as paul kruger, was the president of the south african republic from 1883 to 1902. it was he who first pled âfor setting aside certain areas where game could be protected and where nature could remain unspoilt as the creator made it.âlabuschagne, rudolph johannes. 1958. 60 years, kruger park. pretoria: national park boar
1867_births 1957_deaths Scottish_emigrants_to_South_Africa Scottish_military_personnel