RULE, JOHN, was born in England in 1775, a member of an old naval family, and nephew of Vice-Admiral Peard. Having qualified as a surgeon and physician, he spent some years as assistant surgeon in the Jamaica naval hospital. In 1800 he was appointed surgeon in the packet department on the Falmouth station, and in 1806 he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. Retiring from naval duty in 1825, he practised in Cornwall until 1833, when he accepted a position as medical officer of the Australian emigrant ship Layton. While in Australia in 1837 he received from John Williams Harris (q.v.) a piece of moa bone, which he took to England, aware of its origin. Having interested Sir Richard Owen (q.v.), who later wrote Extinct Wingless Birds of New Zealand from this original piece of evidence, he sold it to the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1843 an article by Rule appeared in the Polytechnic Journal. He later came to New Zealand, and practised in Wellington, Motueka and Nelson. He left for Australia in 1857.

Buick, The Mystery of the Moa, The Discovery of Dinornis; Southern Cross, 15 Jun 1868.

Reference: Volume 2, page 134

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