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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 Meredith Rusu
Scholastic
Released: April 24th, 2018
Paperback (128 pages)
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*(As of 18:17 Pacific 7 Dec 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
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By Dr Richard Owen
Kessinger Publishing
Released: September 10th, 2010
Paperback (132 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $22.95*
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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
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By Dr Richard Owen
Kessinger Publishing
Released: October 1st, 2008
Paperback (132 pages)
 | Lowest New Price: $22.95*
Usually ships within 2 to 3 days*
*(As of 18:17 Pacific 7 Dec 2024 More Info)
Click Here | Description:
Monograph Of The Fossil Mammalia Of The Mesozoic Formations (1871)- Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
- Brand: Kessinger Publishing
- ISBN: 1437048374
- EAN: 9781437048377
Details:- Paperback
- Number of Pages: 132
- Author: Dr Richard Owen
- Publication Date: October 1st, 2008
- Release Date: October 1st, 2008
Physical Description:- Size: 11.0 inches by 8.25 inches by 0.28 inches
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