Richard Owen
Full Name and Common Aliases
Richard Owen was a British biologist, anatomist, and paleontologist who is widely regarded as one of the leading figures in the field of comparative anatomy during the 19th century.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on July 14, 1804, in Lancaster, England, Richard Owen passed away on November 18, 1892, at his home in South Kensington, London.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Owen was a British national by birth and profession. He worked as a biologist, anatomist, and paleontologist throughout his career, contributing significantly to the fields of comparative anatomy, taxonomy, and vertebrate evolution.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Lancashire, England, Owen's interest in natural history was fostered from an early age by his father, who encouraged him to collect and study fossils. This curiosity led Owen to attend the Royal Lancaster Grammar School before moving on to the University of Edinburgh in 1821 to study medicine.
Major Accomplishments
Owen's most notable contributions include:
Coining the term "dinosaur" in 1842, which was derived from the Greek words for 'terrible lizard.'
Conducting pioneering work on comparative anatomy and taxonomy, resulting in significant advancements in our understanding of vertebrate evolution.
Serving as a fellow of the Royal Society and being appointed as the first superintendent of the Natural History Department at the British Museum.Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works and actions attributed to Owen include:
Reptile Kingdom (1849), a comprehensive treatise on reptiles that solidified his reputation as a leading authority in comparative anatomy.
On the Archetype and Homologies of the Vertebrate Skeleton (1848), a seminal work that outlined his views on vertebrate evolution and homology.
Serving as an advisor to Sir Richard Meyer, who was instrumental in promoting Owen's career.
Impact and Legacy
Owen's groundbreaking research and discovery significantly contributed to our understanding of vertebrate evolution. His influential theories laid the groundwork for subsequent scientific advancements in paleontology, comparative anatomy, and taxonomy.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Richard Owen is widely quoted and remembered due to his numerous contributions to the fields of biology, anatomy, and paleontology. His pioneering work on comparative anatomy, taxonomy, and vertebrate evolution has had a lasting impact on scientific understanding, earning him recognition as one of the most influential figures in 19th-century science.
Owen's commitment to research and discovery has inspired generations of scientists and researchers, ensuring his legacy continues to shape our comprehension of the natural world.
Quotes by Richard Owen
But, as we have before been led to remark, most of Mr. Darwin’s statements elude, by their vagueness and incompleteness, the test of Natural History facts.
Every step in the progress of this study has tended to obliterate the technical barriers by which logicians have sought to separate the inquiries relating to the several parts of man’s nature.
But, as we have before been led to remark, most of Mr. Darwin's statements elude, by their vagueness and incompleteness, the test of Natural History facts.
That the variability of an organism to a certain extent is a constant and certain condition of life we admit, otherwise there would be no distinguishable individuals of a species.
Mr. Darwin refers to the multitude of the individual of every species, which, from one cause or another, perish either before, or soon after attaining maturity.
No naturalist has devoted more painstaking attention to the structure of the barnacles than Mr. Darwin.
Cuvier had preceded Lamarck in specifying the kinds and degrees of variation, which his own observations and critical judgment of the reports of others led him to admit.
Every step in the progress of this study has tended to obliterate the technical barriers by which logicians have sought to separate the inquiries relating to the several parts of man's nature.
Mr. Darwin contributes some striking and ingenious instances of the way in which the principle partially affects the chain, or rather network of life, even to the total obliteration of certain meshes.