Frederick William Fitzsimons was born in Ireland on 6 August 1870. He was a Zoologist who gained international repute for his research into reptiles, and in particular into snakebite serum.  In 1918 he founded the Port Elizabeth Snake Park, the first of its kind in Africa and the second in the world. For 30 years he served as director of the Port Elizabeth Museum, and pioneered South Africa's school museum service. His authoritative books on southern African snakes became standard works. He also studied and wrote on mammals and birds.

Sources:

1. Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
2. Joyce, P. (1999). A Concise Dictionary of South African Biography, Cape Town: Francolin, p 90.