The international committee

JWD: The Marco Polo of Rotary

JAMES WHEELER DAVIDSON WAS THE FOUNDER OF RCB AND 33 OTHER ROTARY CLUBS. THE ROTARY CLUB OF BOMBAY EXISTS BECAUSE OF HIS VISION AND ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT 91 YEARS AGO. ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2020, WE HAVE A SPEAKER WITH US WHO IS THE AUTHORITY ON JWD.

He spent many years researching and has, until now, published two books on JWD (with one more in the making). Dr. Robert Lampard, a Canadian and Rotarian of RC Red Deer will address our Club on JWD on November 24th, 2020.

Early Days
James Wheeler Davidson (14 June 1872 – 18 July 1933) was an explorer, writer, United States diplomat, businessman and philanthropist. He is remembered for his long stay and book on The Island of Formosa (now Taiwan) and also noted for greatly aiding the internationalisation of Rotary International.

In 1893 Davidson was a member of the Peary expedition to Greenland, which was attempting to find a route to the North Pole. In 1895 he travelled to Taiwan as a war correspondent to report on the transition from Qing rule to Japanese rule and witnessed the resistance to the Japanese takeover which centred on the short-lived Republic of Formosa. He was decorated by the Emperor of Japan in 1895 with Order of Rising Sun for services rendered to the Japanese army in capturing the capital of Formosa. Once the Japanese established control over the island, he took up a job as a trader based in the town of Tamsui. In June 1897, he was appointed consular agent for the island of Formosa by President Cleveland. He remained there nine years, during which time he wrote numerous monographs on Formosan affairs.

In 1903, he obtained leave of absence and, under the auspices of the Russian Communications Department, made a careful survey of the territory adjacent to the Asian section of the Trans-Siberian Railway, collecting material for a complete report of this territory.

Invalided out of the service in 1905, he returned to the United States of America to convalesce, subsequently emigrating to Canada after he had recovered. Once there, he became involved in the lumber business, making his fortune and becoming a pillar of the local community. Davidson was an enthusiastic member of the Rotary Club in Calgary, and when the organisation wanted to extend its reach throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australasia, he was the logical choice as envoy to the region because of his prior international experience.

Many of these Clubs today still exist. Bombay is one of them!

We look forward as Bob takes us along this epic journey…

ROBERT LAMPARD TALKS ON JAMES WHEELER DAVIDSON – YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW