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Sir Richard Owen
Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892) was an English paleontologist, biologist,
and comparative anatomist
- 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".
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.
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".
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By Richard Owen
Euston Grove Press
Released: June 1st, 2013
Paperback (50 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $9.99*
In Stock.*
*(As of 21:34 Pacific 7 Dec 2022 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Geology and Inhabitants of the Ancient World (15) (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: 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: 0.16093745126 Pounds
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By Mark Witton
The Crowood Press
Released: September 1st, 2022
Hardcover (192 pages)
 | List Price: $65.00*
Lowest New Price: $45.67*
In Stock.*
*(As of 21:34 Pacific 7 Dec 2022 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Art and Science of the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs- Manufacturer: The Crowood Press
- ISBN: 071984049X
- EAN: 9780719840494
Details:- Hardcover
- Number of Pages: 192
- Authors: Mark Witton, Ellinor Michel
- Publication Date: September 1st, 2022
- Release Date: September 1st, 2022
Physical Description:- Size: 11.4 Inches by 9.1 Inches by 0.7 Inches
- Weight: 2.10982384734 Pounds
Click here for more information |
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By Richard Fortey
Knopf
Paperback (416 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $12.54*
Usually ships within 7 to 8 days.*
*(As of 21:34 Pacific 7 Dec 2022 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Life : An Unauthorized Biography- Manufacturer: Knopf
- ISBN: 000638420X
- EAN: 9780006384205
Details:- Paperback
- Edition: New Ed
- Number of Pages: 416
- Author: Richard Fortey
Physical Description:- Size: 7.76 Inches by 5.08 Inches by 1.13 Inches
- Weight: 0.6834330122 Pounds
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By Richard Scrivener
Austin Macauley
Released: September 30th, 2021
Paperback (70 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $10.95*
In Stock.*
*(As of 21:34 Pacific 7 Dec 2022 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: 0.32 Pounds
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By Peter Dodson
Brand: Princeton University Press
Released: March 30th, 1998
Paperback (360 pages)
 | List Price: $29.95*
Lowest Used Price: $11.87*
In Stock.*
*(As of 21:34 Pacific 7 Dec 2022 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
The Horned Dinosaurs- Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
- Brand: Brand: Princeton University Press
- ISBN: 0691059004
- EAN: 9780691059006
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 360
- Author: Peter Dodson
- Publication Date: March 30th, 1998
- Release Date: March 30th, 1998
Physical Description:- Size: 9.25 Inches by 6.0 Inches by 1.0 Inches
- Weight: 1.15 Pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
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