SOHODIBURGX, Sir ROBERT a celebrated traveler, was born at Freiburg in Prussian Saxony, June 5, 1804. Ile began at an early age to apply himself to geo graphical science and natural history, and subsequently made an abortive attempt to succee.ias it tobacco manufacturer in Virginia. In 1830 lie went to Anegada, one of the Virgin isles, and having, by the advice of the governor, carefully surveyed the island, and laid a report before the royal geograpical society, he was charged by that learned body with the survey of G•iiina in 1833. This enterprise. which was surrounded with formidable diflImilties, he satisfactorily achieved, and from time to time laid the results of his investigations before the society, in whose Journal they were regularly published. It was during this exploration, and while lie was ascending the Berbiee river, that he discovered, dan. 1847, the magnificent aquatic plant denominated the Victoria Tegia (q.v.). On his return to England in 1839. lie was presented with the medal of the geo graphical soriwy fur leis Thirsts and Researches in British Gutana in (Lond. f840),
a work which largely contributed to almost every branch of natural science. In 1840 he le-en:tied to Guiana, this time under the auspices of the British government, to com plete Ins survey of that country, and survey the boundary line between it and Brnzil; .
and on return in 1344. after the eompletion of his labors. lilt received the honor of knighthood. The DPseription of British Guiana, a valuable work, was the fruit of this In 1847 he published an excellent and elaborate History of Barbados's, and the following 'ear departed for an Domingo, whither he had been accredited as British consul al a representative. In this new sphere lie continued to pursue his geo graphical and scientific researches, the results of which he communicated in reports to the geographical society till 1853. In 1857 he was appointed British representative to the Siamese court. He returned ill in 1604, and died next year.