Thomas Vere Hodgson

Born in Birmingham in 1864, Hodgson initially worked at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth before becoming curator of Plymouth Borough Museum in 1898. He resigned two years later to become the marine biologist on board the Discovery. This post had previously been offered to William Spiers Bruce who, due to delays and clashes with expedition patron Sir Clements Markham, declined later leading the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition 1902-1904.

During his time on the expedition Hodgson, known by the nickname ‘Muggins’, provided the first descriptions of deep sea floor communities in Antarctica. After Discovery Hodgson was reappointed curator of the Plymouth Museum. He suffered from ill health after the rigours of his work in the Antarctic and died May 1926 at the age of 62.