Major Gustav Ferdinand von Tempsky in the eyes of his granddaughter Armine von Tempski

 

Citation from Armine von Tempski "Born in Paradise"[i]

 

There are people who seem to move through life with an invisible spotlight focused on them. Louis von Tempsky, of Polish and Scotch blood, was one of that breed. …

 

His father, known later to us wide-eyed children as “Grand-dad,” was Major Gustav Ferdinand von Tempsky, political exile from Poland at the age of eighteen, who had left a globe-trotting trail of accomplishments in his wake.

 

As a youngster he got mahogany out of the jungles of Nicaragua, braving fever, hostile tribes of Indians, crocodiles, and snakes. In 1847 he went to California and remained long enough to participate in the Gold Rush.

 

But after a little, California grew to tame for him. Mounting his white stallion he rode from San Diego to Mexico City. In 1853, he visited the ruins of Mitla in Yucatan, and fought for a while under Maximilian.

 

With his flashing eyes and flowing black curls, brandishing his guitar, paint brush, and sword, he was a welcome visitor anywhere—a scholar and a fighting man.

 

But trough it all, artistic gentleman or ruthless warrior, he was a vagabond.

 

Quickly draining the delights of Mexico, he went on to the Corramandel gold fields of Australia [should be Coromandel goldfield in New Zealand — Andy]. Within two years he was offered the leadership of the Mills and Boone Expedition being formed to cross the unexplored deserts of interior Australia. With a camel Caravan. Fearless, but intensely practical, he declined, convinced that the expedition would prove a failure. It did, for all its members perished in the attempt.

 

Later he enlisted as an officer in the Maori Wars in New Zealand. Until he came, the English had been unable to defeat the ferocious tattooed warriors. With the Forest Rangers, whom he organized and led, von Tempsky outmaneuvered the Maoris, carving a smashing and colorful career on the field of battle and, eventually dying in action.

 

Today, children studying history in the Antipodes find him rated as one of the great heroes of New Zealand…

 

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More about the life of Major Gustav Ferdinand von Tempsky (5 February 1828 – 7 September 1868) in my blog post "Mjr Gustavus Ferdinand von Tempsky — zjedzony przez Maorysów wojownik i zapomniany Polak" (in Polish).

 

 

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