|
|
|
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".
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.
By Meredith Rusu
Scholastic Inc.
Released: April 24th, 2018
Paperback (128 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $6.99*
In Stock.*
*(As of 06:19 Pacific 12 Jun 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Owen's Guide to Survival (LEGO Jurassic World)- Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
- Brand: Scholastic Inc.
- ISBN: 1338238027
- EAN: 9781338238020
- PartNumber: 27589387
Details:- Paperback
- Format: Illustrated
- Edition: Media tie-in
- Number of Pages: 128
- Author: Meredith Rusu
- Publication Date: April 24th, 2018
- Release Date: April 24th, 2018
Physical Description:- Size: 7.6 Inches by 5.3 Inches by 0.5 Inches
- Weight: 0.45 Pounds
Click here for more information |
|
By Meredith Rusu
Scholastic Inc.
Released: September 3rd, 2019
Paperback (32 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $4.99*
In Stock.*
*(As of 06:19 Pacific 12 Jun 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Owen to the Rescue (LEGO Jurassic World: Reader with Stickers)- Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
- Brand: Scholastic Inc.
- ISBN: 1338539205
- EAN: 9781338539202
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 32
- Author: Meredith Rusu
- Publication Date: September 3rd, 2019
- Release Date: September 3rd, 2019
Physical Description:- Size: 9.0 Inches by 6.0 Inches by 0.25 Inches
- Weight: 0.15 Pounds
Click here for more information |
|
By Lola M. Schaefer
Richard C. Owen Publishing
Released: July 1st, 2001
Paperback (12 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $6.00*
In Stock.*
*(As of 06:19 Pacific 12 Jun 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Trilobites (Books for Young Learners)- Manufacturer: Richard C. Owen Publishing
- ISBN: 1572742593
- EAN: 9781572742598
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 12
- Author: Lola M. Schaefer
- Publication Date: July 1st, 2001
- Release Date: July 1st, 2001
Physical Description:- Size: 7.0 Inches by 7.75 Inches by 1.25 Inches
- Weight: 0.1 Pounds
Click here for more information |
|
By Richard Owen
Independently Published
Released: September 30th, 2020
Paperback (39 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $10.99*
In Stock.*
*(As of 06:19 Pacific 12 Jun 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Geology and Inhabitants of the Ancient World- Manufacturer: Independently published
- Brand: Independently Published
- EAN: 9798691474255
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 39
- Author: Richard Owen
- Publication Date: September 30th, 2020
- Release Date: September 30th, 2020
Physical Description:- Size: 8.5 Inches by 5.5 Inches by 0.09 Inches
- Weight: 0.13 Pounds
Click here for more information |
|
By Keith Parsons
ABC-CLIO
Released: December 2nd, 2003
Hardcover (294 pages)
 | List Price: $94.00*
Lowest New Price: $88.00*
In stock. Usually ships within 4 to 5 days.*
*(As of 06:19 Pacific 12 Jun 2021 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
The Great Dinosaur Controversy: A Guide to the Debates (Controversies in Science)- Manufacturer: ABC-CLIO
- Brand: ABC-CLIO
- ISBN: 1576079228
- EAN: 9781576079225
Details:- Hardcover
- Number of Pages: 294
- Author: Keith Parsons
- Publication Date: December 2nd, 2003
- Release Date: December 2nd, 2003
Physical Description:- Size: 10.0 Inches by 7.0 Inches by 0.75 Inches
- Weight: 1.653 Pounds
Features:- Used Book in Good Condition
Click here for more information |
|
Discuss This Page
Please feel free to post your comments:
Linking to This Page
We do hope that you find this site useful.
We welcome people linking to this website or citing us.
|
|
|
