Frank Elgee

Frank Watson Elgee (8 November 1880 in Ormesby, Yorkshire – 7 August 1944 in Alton, Hampshire, England) was a published archaeologist, geologist and naturalist who wrote several books on the North York Moors such as The Moorlands of North-Eastern Yorkshire (1912),The Romans in Cleveland (1923) and Early Man in North East Yorkshire (1930). In 1933 Leeds University conferred on him an Honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Photos of Frank Elgee and wife, Harriett Wragg Elgee.

He was born in Kings Road, North Ormesby the eldest of four children - Frank Watson (1880), Allan (1883), Edward (1885) and Amy Maria (1887-1942).

His father, Thomas (1851-1939) was Clerk and Bookkeeper at the local Pig iron works. His mother, Jane née Coates (1851-1907), was in poor health but dealt with his early education and he attended the local Public Elementary School in North Ormesby. In 1887 he went to Derwent Street Board School and then in 1893 'The Higher Grade School' that had just opened, later known as 'The Hugh Bell [Higher Grade] School' with his brother Allan, on the corner of Albert Road and Grange Road in Middlesbrough.

In May 1888 he caught Scarlet Fever, the results of which disabled him for the rest of his life. He was rendered short sighted and suffered partial deafness.

In 1892 his family moved to Middlesbrough and it was Albert Park, Middlesbrough that became his source of interest and his playground. It was here that he contracted pneumonia that rendered him very weak with empyema. For many years he had to use a bath chair. In 1895 he worked at William Jacks & Co, Iron Merchants. This was after a further period of ill health when he was unable to take examinations. In April 1897 he had to leave to have a serious chest operation at North Riding Infirmary. He remained for only a short period and being very weak he was carried by his father so he could die at home. His will to live was very strong and he was taken to recuperate at Ingleby Greenhow at the foot of Urra Moor on which lies the highest point of the North York Moors. It was here he took in the sights of the North Eastern moorland and the blue escarpments, the plant life, insects, birds and observed the Cleveland Hills from his wheelchair.

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Wikipedia