Tempest Anderson (7 December 1846 – 26 August 1913)[1] was an ophthalmic surgeon at York County Hospital in the United Kingdom, and an expert amateur photographer and volcanologist. He was a member of the Royal Society Commission which was appointed to investigate the aftermath of the eruptions of La Soufrière volcano, St Vincent and Mont Pelée, Martinique, West Indies which both erupted in May 1902. Some of his photographs of these eruptions were subsequently published in his book, Volcanic Studies in Many Lands.[2]
Anderson lived at the family home[6] of 17 Stonegate in the centre of York,[7] and at 23 Stonegate, which is now the home to the York Medical Society.[8] He built a pair of houses on the road now known as Moorgate, on land purchased from the Holgate Garden Society.[citation needed]
In 1911 Anderson was made one of the vice-presidents of the Old Peterite Club at St Peter's School, York.[9]
West Indies (Barbados, St Vincent, Martinique, Dominica), Southern France
1903
Egypt (?)
1904
Egypt (?), Italy (Vesuvius, Vulcano, Stromboli)
1905
Southern Africa (with the British Association)
1906
Italy (Vesuvius)
1906-1907
West Indies and Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, St Vincent, Martinique, Jamaica and Barbados)
1909
Pacific and Western North America (Samoa, Hawaii, New Zealand, Canadian Rockies, Winnipeg)
1910
Italy (?)
1911
Southern France
1913
Indonesia (Java, Krakatoa), The Philippines (died on the return voyage at Suez)
Mexico, Guatemala and the West Indies
Tempest Anderson spent nine months in Mexico, Guatemala and the West Indies in 1906/1907. He travelled to Mexico to attend the 10th Congres Geologique International before sailing by mail steamer to Guatemala to study the effects of the 1902 earthquake. During the trip he observed and photographed Cerro Quemado, Santa Maria, and Atitlan.[14]
During this trip he collected first hand accounts of the 1902 eruption of the Santa Maria and the immediate aftermath. Captain Saunders of the Pacific Mail Steamer S.S. Newport observed the eruption cloud which rose to a great height. The Captain measured it using a sextant and recorded it as reaching 17 to 18 miles. The sounds accompanying the eruption were loud and were heard even louder at more distant places than close to the mountain. The eruption was heard as far away as Guatemala City, the noises so strong, they were assumed to come from neighbouring volcanoes.[15]
^"Records for Dr. Tempest Anderson". Exhibitions of the Royal Photographic Society 1870–1915. De Montfort University. 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2013.