George W. Hayward

George Jonas Whitaker Hayward (1839–1870) was a well known nineteenth-century English explorer. Information for all but the final few years of his life is scarce. His explorations and horrific murder in central Asia during "The Great Game" eventually earned him a degree of fame.

Hayward was long supposed to have been Irish but research in the 1990s by Charles Timmis revealed that he was in fact a Yorkshireman, born at Headingly Hall on the outskirts of Leeds. He was educated at the Forest School in north London. In 1859 he became an ensign in the British Army. He was stationed in Multan in India (now in Pakistan) with the 89th Regiment of Foot. In 1863 he purchased a commission and became a Lieutenant. He next transferred to the Cameron Highlanders regiment in 1864. He sold his commission in 1865 and left the British Army.

Hayward appeared in England in 1868 and approached Sir Henry Rawlinson, vice president of the Royal Geographical Society. He wanted to be hired as an explorer in central Asia and the western Himalayas. Surprisingly Hayward was provided with £300, surveying equipment, map making instruments and instructions to attempt to reach and survey the then unmapped Pamir Mountains. He was to become the only explorer funded by the Royal Geological Society during "The Great Game."

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