TURNBULL, ALEXANDER HORSBURGH (1868-1918) was born at Wellington, the son of Walter Turnbull (q.v.). Educated locally and at Dulwich College, London (1882-84), he remained in England till 1893, receiving experience in the London office of W. and G. Turnbull and Co. (founded by his father in 1856). After his father's death in 1897 he managed the affairs of the firm till 1917, when its principal interests were bought out by Wright Stephenson and Co. Having inherited ample means from his father's estate and a further bequest from his uncle (Robert Turnbull) in 1901, he was able to indulge in his hobbies, which were those of a historian and bibliophile.

By 1887 he was collecting books, and in 1889 he had a collection which students already consulted. This taste continued unabated through his life, mounting greatly with his increased means. He collected works of art, coins and Maori artifacts. Over 1,300 of the last group were presented to the Dominion Museum in 1913. Ultimately his library was wide in scope, and well selected in content. The main section was devoted to New Zealand and the Pacific countries, but English literature was almost an equal interest. He delighted in rare, choice and early editions, and acquired numerous such volumes, excellently bound by masters of the craft.

His collection of books relating to John Milton is especially notable, and the Brownings, William Morris, Defoe and Swinburne are also important. Bibliographical works are strong, including fine sections on printing and printing history. Early voyages and travel are a valuable adjunct to the Pacific collection, which is further supplemented by a splendid group of manuscripts, logs, historical letters, pictures (many originals), photographs and documents. On Turnbull's death (on 28 Jun 1918) the entire collection, comprising about 55,000 volumes, was bequeathed to the state as a reference library to be located in Wellington, and under government control. It has grown to be an important centre of cultural research known as the 'Alexander Turnbull Library.' Turnbull was a fellow of the Linnean Society and of the Royal Geographical Society, a member of the New Zealand Institute and of the Polynesian Society. From 1900 to 1913 he was honorary vice-consular representative for Spain in Wellington. He was well known for many years as a yachtsman, and his only literary work is a privately-printed account of a yachting cruise on the Iorangi to Queen Charlotte Sound in 1902. It includes a few notes on Captain Cook. He also contributed notes to the publication of a manuscript in his possession regarding Vancouver's discovery of Puget Sound. This was edited by E. S. Meany and published at Seattle, U.S.A., in 1915.

C.R.H.T.

J. C. Andersen in Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 51, (p). Col. Gent.; Evening Post, 28 Jun 1918; The Dominion, 29 Jun; C. R. H. Taylor in American Book Collector, Jan 1935; many letters and papers in Alexander Turnbull Library.

Reference: Volume 2, page 204

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