Louis J. Cabri, Ph.D., FRSC, P.Geo (ON), is a recently retired
geologist specialising in mineralogy. A graduate of the University
of the Witwatersrand and of McGill University, he has published
widely in peerreviewed professional journals, as well as written
and edited several books on mineralogy and geology. Louis first
became aware of Henry Clifford De Meillon when his father-in-law
(Botha De Meillon) presented his daughter Mimi with a copy of
Smith’s (1978) book on Henry Clifford’s water colours.
Over the years, Botha would comment on his ancestors, believing
they were French Huguenots, but Louis only started to research the
family in the last few years, when he became interested in
genealogy and the family tree. Searching for confirmatory documents
on De Meillon ancestors led to many friendships and to learning
that Roger James was also interested in researching the same De
Meillon ancestors. Roger W. James, MBChB, MMed (AnatPath), FRCPath,
is a 5th generation descendant of HC De Meillon.
Although a medical doctor and Pathologist by training, he has had a
long interest in genealogy and South African history. He was
intrigued as a child of family stories of the De Meillons being
descended from French nobility or Napoleon Bonaparte. When his
parents bought a copy of Anna Smith's book Cape Views and Costumes,
he was struck by the beauty and simplicity of the paintings, as
well as the historical significance of the images.
He started researching the artist and his descendants as so little
was known about this significant South African artist. Years later,
he met Louis Cabri and they decided to collaborate to produce a
publication of their findings, significantly adding to what is
known about the artist, his work and his descendants.
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