Confusing Arthurs

     I warned against confusing the Port Arthur in China and the one in Australia. Michael Basset comments:
     "You are right about the two Port Arthurs getting their names from different Arthurs. Port Arthur in Tasmania was named after Sir George Arthur, who was governor of Van Diemen's Land 1823-1836. He was subsequently governor of Upper Canada as well as Bombay. By one of those quirks, his hereditary title (a baronetcy) passed down through limbs of the family tree to a Nelson (New Zealand) taxi driver!! and thence to a parliamentary colleague of mine, Sir Basil Arthur, who was briefly Speaker of the NZ Parliament 1984-5."


     My comment: I suppose the popularity in England of Arthur both as a first name and a family name came from the story of King Arthur, whose (fake) round table hangs in the castle at Winchester, where I grew up. The Arthurian legend was immensely popular in the Middle Ages, and even in modern times. I remember that Southern Railway locomotives were named after the Knights of the Round Table. I must say that a taxi is much more practical than one of the Knights' horses.

Ronald Hilton - 2/29/00