Database: Richard Owen: Difference between revisions
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[[File:ACS DB Richard Owen.jpg|right|250px]] | |||
Date of Birth: 20 July 1804. | Date of Birth: 20 July 1804. | ||
Sir [[Richard Owen]] never learned natural history in school growing up, which may have been his first mistake in life. He studied to become a surgeon at the University of Edinburgh, found work at the Hunterian Museum cataloguing plant and animal specimens, and was elected to the research arm of the Zoological Society of [[London]] in 1830. He was the youngest and most active member of the group. By which I mean he did lots of work, not that he was a jogger. | Sir [[Richard Owen]] never learned natural history in school growing up, which may have been his first mistake in life. He studied to become a surgeon at the {{Wiki|University of Edinburgh}}, found work at the {{Wiki|Hunterian Museum, London|Hunterian Museum}} cataloguing plant and animal specimens, and was elected to the research arm of the {{Wiki|Zoological Society of London|Zoological Society}} of [[London]] in 1830. He was the youngest and most active member of the group. By which [[Shaun Hastings|I]] mean he did lots of work, not that he was a jogger. | ||
By the middle of the nineteenth century, scientists were | By the middle of the nineteenth century, scientists were theorizing about the presence of the Divine in natural sciences. Owen threw his hat into the proverbial ring by publishing papers outlining his theory on the origin of [[Earth]]'s species. In essence, Owen believed that the changes observed in animals occurred as a response to their environment, and that all species not only share a common archetypal ancestor, but that all species are progressing towards an idealized form, with humans already reaching their apex. | ||
From apes to apex. That'd make a nice title for my autobiography. | From apes to apex. That'd make a nice title for my autobiography. | ||
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Oh, and if that doesn't make a lot of sense to you, don't worry. Owen's contemporaries felt the same way. | Oh, and if that doesn't make a lot of sense to you, don't worry. Owen's contemporaries felt the same way. | ||
Owen developed a reputation for overreacting to criticism and responding in anger, crossing the line of acceptable | Owen developed a reputation for overreacting to criticism and responding in anger, crossing the line of acceptable behavior and discourse in the scientific community. This was evident more than ever in his scathing reviews of ''{{Wiki|On the Origin of Species}}'', published by [[Charles Darwin]] in 1858. Owen stood by his own theories even as his contemporaries came to embrace Darwin and natural selection. Feeling alienated from his peers in the field of biology, Owen focused his efforts on, among other things, establishing the {{Wiki|Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum}}, which he did in 1881. He was knighted three years later and promptly retired. Which is what I will do when finally the [[Elizabeth II|old bird]] knights me. | ||
By the time Owen passed away in 1892, he was remembered for little more than his opposition to Darwinism and his misplaced ego. But before you go knocking on him, keep in mind Richard Owen coined the word 'dinosaur.' Let's see you top that. | By the time Owen passed away in 1892, he was remembered for little more than his opposition to {{Wiki|Darwinism}} and his misplaced ego. But before you go knocking on him, keep in mind Richard Owen coined the word 'dinosaur.' Let's see you top that. | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richard Owen}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Richard Owen}} | ||
[[Category:Database: People]] | [[Category:Database: People]] | ||
[[Category:Helix database entries]] | [[Category:Helix database entries]] | ||
Latest revision as of 00:23, 23 December 2025
Date of Birth: 20 July 1804.
Sir Richard Owen never learned natural history in school growing up, which may have been his first mistake in life. He studied to become a surgeon at the University of Edinburgh, found work at the Hunterian Museum cataloguing plant and animal specimens, and was elected to the research arm of the Zoological Society of London in 1830. He was the youngest and most active member of the group. By which I mean he did lots of work, not that he was a jogger.
By the middle of the nineteenth century, scientists were theorizing about the presence of the Divine in natural sciences. Owen threw his hat into the proverbial ring by publishing papers outlining his theory on the origin of Earth's species. In essence, Owen believed that the changes observed in animals occurred as a response to their environment, and that all species not only share a common archetypal ancestor, but that all species are progressing towards an idealized form, with humans already reaching their apex.
From apes to apex. That'd make a nice title for my autobiography.
Oh, and if that doesn't make a lot of sense to you, don't worry. Owen's contemporaries felt the same way.
Owen developed a reputation for overreacting to criticism and responding in anger, crossing the line of acceptable behavior and discourse in the scientific community. This was evident more than ever in his scathing reviews of On the Origin of Species, published by Charles Darwin in 1858. Owen stood by his own theories even as his contemporaries came to embrace Darwin and natural selection. Feeling alienated from his peers in the field of biology, Owen focused his efforts on, among other things, establishing the Natural History Museum, which he did in 1881. He was knighted three years later and promptly retired. Which is what I will do when finally the old bird knights me.
By the time Owen passed away in 1892, he was remembered for little more than his opposition to Darwinism and his misplaced ego. But before you go knocking on him, keep in mind Richard Owen coined the word 'dinosaur.' Let's see you top that.