Who's Who in the Far East/HASSAN, Alexander Richard Roby
HASSAN, Alexander Richard Roby (SHANGHAI), Agency Director, New York Life Insurance Co.; b. 1873; m. Nellie Blanche Griffin, of Forest Gate, Essex, England. Educ.: Privately and Gibraltar College. Studied medicine for two years and then adopted sea-faring career; in due course passed as master; joined several expeditions of more or less scientific nature and visited less explored portions of world in search of data, geological, astronomical etc; was with expeditions to Central Africa and Antarctic; 3 years surveying in Gilbert and Caroline Islands and verifying soundings in South Sea Islands; through South African campaign and took an active part in transportation of troops; was engaged in transportation of Boer prisoners to St. Helena; on board "Utopia" when wrecked off Europa Pt, Gibraltar; held for ransom by brigands in Morocco, 1899, but escaped; authority on theory og Gulf stream and in possession of most complete data (personally acquired) thereaner>t; inventor of automatic recorder of deep sea soundings; joined New York Life Insurance Co., 1904, as Agency Director at Hongkong. Publications: "From East to West"; "Life on a Transport"; "Impressions from the Four Quarters of the Globe "(in press);" Seismic Disturbances and Their Causes " (in preparation); has contributed largely to American and English Magazines and Newspapers under pen-name," A. Roby." Address: New York Life Insurance Co., Shanghai, China; Mander House, Rarauz Drive, Westcliff on Sea, Essex, England.