Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892) coined the term dinosaur and founded London's Natural History Museum

Dinosaur Jungle



Dinosaur Books



Dinosaur Clothing



Dinosaur Crosswords


Dinosaur Facts
   Amazing Dinosaurs
   Classification
      Ornithischia
         Ankylosaurs
         Ceratopsians
         Marginocephalia
         Ornithopods
         Pachycephalosaurs
         Stegosaurs
      Saurischia
         Prosauropods
         Sauropods
         Theropods
   Definition
   Diet
   Eggs
   Extinction
   Family Tree
   Fossils
         Footprints
   Life Span
   Living Dinosaurs?
   Myths
   Timeline
      Triassic Period
      Jurassic Period
      Cretaceous Period
   World
      African Dinosaurs
      Antarctic Dinosaurs
      Asian Dinosaurs
      Australian Dinosaurs
      European Dinosaurs
      Indian Dinosaurs
      N. American Dinosaurs
      S. American Dinosaurs


Dinosaur Fun



Dinosaur Games



Dinosaur Jokes



Dinosaur Museums
   Australia Dinosaur Museums
   Canada Dinosaur Museums
   UK Dinosaur Museums
   USA Dinosaur Museums



Dinosaur Names



Dinosaur Pictures



Dinosaur Scientists
   Charles Darwin
   Mary Anning
   Sir Richard Owen
   More Dinosaur Scientists



Dinosaur Software



Dinosaur Types
   Allosaurus
   Ankylosaurus
   Apatosaurus
   Baryonyx
   Brachiosaurus
   Centrosaurus
   Ceratosaurus
   Coelophysis
   Deinonychus
   Dilophosaurus
   Diplodocus
   Euoplocephalus
   Iguanodon
   Kentrosaurus
   Lambeosaurus
   Maiasaura
   Megalosaurus
   Microraptor
   Monoclonius
   Pachycephalosaurus
   Parasaurolophus
   Pentaceratops
   Protoceratops
   Saltopus
   Saurolophus
   Seismosaurus
   Spinosaurus
   Stegosaurus
   Styracosaurus
   Supersaurus
   Triceratops
   Tyrannosaurus Rex
   Velociraptor
   More Dinosaur Types


Dinosaur Toys



Dinosaur Video Games



Dinosaur Videos



Dinosaur Word Search



Other Prehistoric Animals
   Aetosaurs
   Ambulocetus
   Ammonites
   Andrewsarchus
   Archaeopteryx
   Basilosaurus
   Belemnites
   Brontotheres
   Chalicotheres
   Champsosaurs
   Coelacanth
   Cynodonts
   Dicynodonts
   Dimetrodon
   Gastornis
   Glyptodonts
   Gorgonopsians
   Hesperornis
   Hyracotherium
   Ichthyosaurs
   Mammal-like Reptiles
   Mammoths
   Mastodons
   Megaloceros
   Megalodon
   Meganeura Monyi
   Megatherium
   Mosasaurs
   Moschops
   Pakicetus
   Paraceratherium
   Phorusrhacids
   Placoderms
   Plesiosaurs
   Pliosaurs
   Pterosaurs
   Sea Scorpions
   Smilodon
   Spiny Sharks
   Tiktaalik
   Titanoboa
   Trilobites
   More Prehistoric Animals


Dinosaur Links
   Before the Dinosaurs
   Dinosaur Hangman
   Dinosaurs News
   Dinosaurs Parks
   Jurassic Dinosaurs
   Triassic Dinosaurs

Education - Math Downloads
   Fun With Figures
   Making Math More Fun
   Math Bingo
   Math Riddle Book
   Download Math eBooks

Education - Reading Downloads
   Child Learning Reading
   Dolch Sight Words
   Phonics Bingo
   Sight Word Bingo

Education - Science Downloads
   24 Hour Science Projects
   Super Science Fair Projects
   Download Science eBooks


 
   
Dinosaur Jungle   >   Dinosaur Scientists   >   Sir Richard Owen

Sir Richard Owen



Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892) was an English paleontologist, biologist, and comparative anatomist
Sir Richard Owen

  • He is perhaps best known for having coined the term "dinosaur" (or actually "dinosauria") in 1842 - it means "terrible reptile".

  • Owen created, in conjunction with Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, the first full-size dinosaur reconstructions. These were originally produced for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and displayed in Crystal Palace, London, with a total of 33 models eventually produced. Perhaps the most famous story about these models, is that Owen hosted a dinner for 21 prominent men of science inside the model of Iguanodon New Year's Eve, 1853. The surviving models are today located in Dinosaur Court in the Crystal Palace area of South London.

  • Owen was perhaps the person most directly responsible for the foundation of the British Museum (Natural History) in South Kensington, London, England, which is today of course known as the "Natural History Museum".

    Natural History Museum in London

Owen was born on July 20th n 1804, in Lancaster, England. He was educated in Lancaster Royal Grammar School, the University of Edinburgh, and in St Bartholomew's Hospital London.

Although Owen considered a career as a surgeon, he was in fact more interest in anatomical research. He eventually accepted a position as assistant to the conservator of the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, and abandoned medical practice.

In 1836, Owen was appointed as a Hunterian professor of the Royal College of Surgeons, in 1849, he became the conservator of the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, and then in 1856, he became superintendent of the natural history department of the British Museum. His work with the British Museum including creating a new Natural History building in South Kensington (today the Natural History Museum), and in 1884 he was knighted. Owen retired, and died in 1892 in Sheen Lodge, Richmond Park, South London.

Sir Richard Owen with the skeleton of an extinct Moa

During his career, Owen wrote numerous scientific papers, including anatomic descriptions of many animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates, and both extant and extinct (fossil) animals. He was even granted right of first refusal of any animal carcasses from London Zoo, and, as result, according to legend, his wife once returned home to find a dead rhinoceros in the hallway of their house.

Although Owen recognized many similarities between different animals, Owen took them as evidence of "archetypes" in god's mind, rather than as evidence of common descent. After Charles Darwin published "On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection", in 1859, Owen, in his position with the British Museum, received many letters (pro-, anti- and inquiries) concerning the book, and initially avoiding expressing a view, but rather argued in favor of a new Natural History Museum.

However, in 1860, an anonymously bylined review of "On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection" written by Richard Owen, appeared in the Edinburgh Review, and Owen gradually became engaged in a fierce and bitter dispute with Darwin's followers, especially T. H. Huxley. Nevertheless, a fossil of one of the transitional animals (Archaeopteryx) predicted by Charles Darwin was bought by Owen for the British Museum in 1863 (although Owen described it as simply a bird, rather than a proto-bird or transitional form).

Aside from the controversies over evolution and Natural Selection, Owen was also involved in a number of other controversies and disputes during his career. Although he began on friendly terms with Owen, Darwin himself wrote "I used to be ashamed of hating him so much, but now I will carefully cherish my hatred and contempt to the last days of my life".


Related Information & Resources


Related Web Sites See Also

Related Books


Here are some books from Amazon.com:

Disclosure: Products details and descriptions provided by Amazon.com. Our company may receive a payment if you purchase products from them after following a link from this website.

Geology and Inhabitants of the Ancient World: Richard Owen's 1854 Guide to Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. Facsimile (Crystal Palace Guides)
By Dr Richard Owen

Euston Grove Press
Released: June 1st, 2013
Paperback (50 pages)

Geology and Inhabitants of the Ancient World: Richard Owen s 1854 Guide to Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. Facsimile (Crystal Palace Guides)
List Price: $10.99*
Lowest New Price: $8.09*
In Stock*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
Geology and Inhabitants of the Ancient World: Richard Owen's 1854 Guide to Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. Facsimile (Crystal Palace Guides)
  • Manufacturer: Euston Grove Press
  • Brand: Euston Grove Press
  • ISBN: 1906267367
  • EAN: 9781906267360
  • PartNumber: black & white illustrations
Details:
  • Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 50
  • Author: Dr Richard Owen
  • Publication Date: June 1st, 2013
  • Release Date: June 1st, 2013
Physical Description:
  • Size: 8.27 inches by 5.83 inches by 0.1 inches
  • Weight: 0.18518830008 pounds
Click here for more information
The First Dinosaur Book: Richard Owen on British Fossil Reptiles (1842) (HISTORY OF EARTH SCIENCES SERIES)
Scholars Facsimilies & Reprint
Released: June 28th, 1999
Hardcover (212 pages)

The First Dinosaur Book: Richard Owen on British Fossil Reptiles (1842) (HISTORY OF EARTH SCIENCES SERIES)
Lowest Used Price: $187.01*
In Stock*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
The First Dinosaur Book: Richard Owen on British Fossil Reptiles (1842) (HISTORY OF EARTH SCIENCES SERIES)
  • Manufacturer: Scholars Facsimilies & Reprint
  • ISBN: 0820115266
  • EAN: 9780820115269
Details:
  • Hardcover
  • Number of Pages: 212
  • Publication Date: June 28th, 1999
  • Release Date: June 28th, 1999
Physical Description:
  • Size: 9.0 inches by 6.0 inches by 0.75 inches
  • Weight: 1.0 pounds
Click here for more information
Dinosaur Dan
By Richard Scrivener

Austin Macauley
Released: September 30th, 2021
Paperback (70 pages)

Dinosaur Dan
List Price: $10.95*
Lowest New Price: $3.48*
In Stock*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
Dinosaur Dan
  • Manufacturer: Austin Macauley
  • ISBN: 1398411388
  • EAN: 9781398411388
Details:
  • Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 70
  • Author: Richard Scrivener
  • Publication Date: September 30th, 2021
  • Release Date: September 30th, 2021
Physical Description:
  • Size: 9.21 inches by 6.14 inches by 0.19 inches
  • Weight: 0.31305641204 pounds
Click here for more information
Owen's Jurassic Logbook (wth Owen minifigure and mini Blue Raptor) (LEGO Jurassic World)
By Scholastic

Scholastic
Released: September 5th, 2019
Hardcover (144 pages)

Owen s Jurassic Logbook (wth Owen minifigure and mini Blue Raptor) (LEGO Jurassic World)
Lowest Used Price: $1.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
Owen's Jurassic Logbook (wth Owen minifigure and mini Blue Raptor) (LEGO Jurassic World)
  • Manufacturer: Scholastic
  • ISBN: 1338538047
  • EAN: 9781338538045
Details:
  • Hardcover
  • Edition: 1
  • Number of Pages: 144
  • Author: Scholastic
  • Publication Date: September 5th, 2019
  • Release Date: September 5th, 2019
Physical Description:
  • Size: 7.71652 inches by 5.82676 inches by 0.59055 inches
  • Weight: 0.551155655 pounds
Click here for more information
Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party: How an Eccentric Group of Victorians Discovered Prehistoric Creatures and Accidentally Upended the World
By Edward Dolnick

Scribner
Released: August 12th, 2025
Paperback (352 pages)

Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party: How an Eccentric Group of Victorians Discovered Prehistoric Creatures and Accidentally Upended the World
Lowest New Price: $19.99*
This title will be released on August 12, 2025. Pre-order now.*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party: How an Eccentric Group of Victorians Discovered Prehistoric Creatures and Accidentally Upended the World
  • Manufacturer: Scribner
  • ISBN: 1982199628
  • EAN: 9781982199623
Details:
  • Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 352
  • Author: Edward Dolnick
  • Publication Date: August 12th, 2025
  • Release Date: August 12th, 2025
Physical Description:
  • Size: 8.375 inches by 5.5 inches by 0.88 inches
  • Weight: 0.57099725858 pounds
Click here for more information
Owen's Guide to Survival (LEGO Jurassic World)
By Meredith Rusu

Scholastic
Released: April 24th, 2018
Paperback (128 pages)

Owen s Guide to Survival (LEGO Jurassic World)
Lowest New Price: $15.75*
In Stock*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
Owen's Guide to Survival (LEGO Jurassic World)
  • Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
  • Brand: Scholastic
  • ISBN: 1338238027
  • EAN: 9781338238020
  • PartNumber: 27589387
Details:
  • Paperback
  • Edition: Media tie-in
  • Number of Pages: 128
  • Author: Meredith Rusu
  • Publication Date: April 24th, 2018
  • Release Date: April 24th, 2018
Physical Description:
  • Size: 8.20078739321 inches by 0.40157480274 inches by 5.49999999439 inches
  • Weight: 0.5 pounds
Click here for more information
Fossil Mammalia - Part I - The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S Beagle: Under the Command of Captain Fitzroy - During the Years 1832 to 1836
By Richard Owen

White Press
Released: May 3rd, 2019
Paperback (206 pages)

Fossil Mammalia - Part I - The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S Beagle: Under the Command of Captain Fitzroy - During the Years 1832 to 1836
List Price: $22.99*
Lowest New Price: $18.99*
In Stock*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
Fossil Mammalia - Part I - The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S Beagle: Under the Command of Captain Fitzroy - During the Years 1832 to 1836
  • Manufacturer: White Press
  • Brand: White Press
  • ISBN: 1528712080
  • EAN: 9781528712088
Details:
  • Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 206
  • Author: Richard Owen
  • Publication Date: May 3rd, 2019
  • Release Date: May 3rd, 2019
Physical Description:
  • Size: 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches by 0.52 inches
  • Weight: 0.598 pounds
Click here for more information
Children's Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs
By Michael K. Brett-Surman

Weldon Owen
Hardcover (192 pages)

Children s Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs
Lowest New Price: $24.67*
In Stock*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
Children's Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs
  • Manufacturer: Weldon Owen
  • ISBN: 1921530634
  • EAN: 9781921530630
  • PartNumber: 43186-140712
Details:
  • Hardcover
  • Number of Pages: 192
  • Author: Michael K. Brett-Surman
Physical Description:
  • Weight: 6.25E-4 pounds
Features:
  • Dinosaus encyclopedia
Click here for more information
On The Extent And Aims Of A National Museum Of Natural History (1862)
By Dr Richard Owen

Kessinger Publishing
Released: September 10th, 2010
Paperback (132 pages)

On The Extent And Aims Of A National Museum Of Natural History (1862)
Lowest New Price: $22.95*
Usually ships within 3 to 5 days*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
On The Extent And Aims Of A National Museum Of Natural History (1862)
  • Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
  • Brand: Kessinger Publishing
  • ISBN: 1164848186
  • EAN: 9781164848189
Details:
  • Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 132
  • Author: Dr Richard Owen
  • Publication Date: September 10th, 2010
  • Release Date: September 10th, 2010
Physical Description:
  • Size: 9.0 inches by 6.0 inches by 0.28 inches
  • Weight: 0.41 pounds
Click here for more information
Owen to the Rescue (LEGO Jurassic World: Reader with Stickers)
By Meredith Rusu

Scholastic
Released: September 3rd, 2019
Paperback (32 pages)

Owen to the Rescue (LEGO Jurassic World: Reader with Stickers)
List Price: $4.99*
Lowest Used Price: $1.35*
In Stock*
*(As of 21:50 Pacific 31 Oct 2024 More Info)


Click Here
Description:
Owen to the Rescue (LEGO Jurassic World: Reader with Stickers)
  • Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
  • Brand: Scholastic
  • ISBN: 1338539205
  • EAN: 9781338539202
Details:
  • Paperback
  • Format: Sticker Book
  • Number of Pages: 32
  • Author: Meredith Rusu
  • Publication Date: September 3rd, 2019
  • Release Date: September 3rd, 2019
Physical Description:
  • Size: 0.08661417314 inches by 10.24015746987 inches by 5.90944881287 inches
  • Weight: 0.1543235834 pounds
Click here for more information
Linking to This Page


We do hope that you find this site useful. We welcome people linking to this website or citing us.

The URL of this web page, is:


If you want to link to this web page from your own web site, you can use the following HTML code:


You are also very welcome to tell your friends about us on Facebook:

 
 










































     
 
DinosaurJungle.com is
Copyright © 2006-2020, Answers 2000 Limited

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE,COMES FROM AMAZON EU S.à r.l. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.


In Association With Amazon.com
Answers 2000 Limited is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
In Association With Amazon.co.uk
Answers 2000 Limited is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.
As an Amazon Associate, our company earns from qualifying purchases. Amazon, the Amazon logo, Endless, and the Endless logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.



Disclosure: Our company's websites' content (including this website's content) includes advertisements for our own company's websites, products, and services, and for other organization's websites, products, and services. In the case of links to other organization's websites, our company may receive a payment, (1) if you purchase products or services, or (2) if you sign-up for third party offers, after following links from this website. Unless specifically otherwise stated, information about other organization's products and services, is based on information provided by that organization, the product/service vendor, and/or publicly available information - and should not be taken to mean that we have used the product/service in question. Additionally, our company's websites contain some adverts which we are paid to display, but whose content is not selected by us, such as Google AdSense ads. For more detailed information, please see Advertising/Endorsements Disclosures

Our sites use cookies, some of which may already be set on your computer. Use of our site constitutes consent for this. For details, please see Privacy.

Click privacy for information about our company's privacy, data collection and data retention policies, and your rights.

Contact Us   Privacy   Terms Of Use   Advertising/Endorsements Disclosures