John Paget Figg-Hoblyn Ph.D ( Biological science) (January 25, 1926 – June 12, 2011)^{[ citation needed]} was a university professor, and taxonomist. He came to public attention when a BBC documentary was broadcast about the search for him in 1994, after he had failed to claim an inheritance which included Fir Hill Manor.

Inheritance dispute

Figg-Hoblyn came to public attention in 1994, when the BBC broadcast a documentary about him. ^{[1] [2]} In 1965 his father had bequeathed him a 1000- acre estate and the ruins of a manor house, Fir Hill Manor, in Cornwall, England. According to the Official Solicitor, he failed to take up the inheritance. ^[2] The Official Solicitor was appointed in 1972 to manage the estate for John Figg-Hoblyn in the 1970s when they lost contact with him. ^[2]

The BBC documentary discovered Figg-Hoblyn was living in a caravan park in California, United States, ^[2] where he and his sister, Peggy, were following a low-key lifestyle trading in organic produce. The BBC subsequently lost contact with him. ^[2]

In 2007, the next-in-line to inherit the estate as the eldest male, John Westropp Figg-Hoblyn, put out a call to find John Paget Figg-Hoblyn before the inheritance which included Fir Hill Manor was lost. ^{[2] [3]}

John Paget Figg-Hoblyn died in a nursing home on 12 June 2011 at the age of 85.^{[ where?][ citation needed]}

Academic career

Figg-Hoblyn was educated at Stanford University, California, United States. In 1953, he described a unique species of jewel beetle that he had discovered, which was given the name Acmaeodera nanbrownae. This name is now classified as a junior synonym for Acmaeodera vanduzeei. ^[4] Dr. Figg-Hoblyn used to have a lab at Stanford University,^{[ citation needed]} and taught at San Jose State University. ^[5]

References