Richard Owen, English Paleontologist, 1872
Owen mounted on a favorite hobbyhorse, the fossilized bones of a Megatherium, cartoon from 1872. Richard Owen (July 20, 1804 - December 18, 1892) was an English biologist, comparative anatomist and paleontologist. One of his positions was that of prosector for the London Zoo, which meant that he had to dissect and preserve any zoo animals that died in captivity. This gave him vast experience with the anatomy of exotic animals. He produced a vast array of scientific work, but is probably best remembered today for coining the word Dinosauria. Owen was an outspoken critic of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. He agreed with Darwin that evolution occurred, but thought it was more complex. Owen's approach to evolution can be seen as having anticipated the issues that have gained greater attention with the recent emergence of evolutionary developmental biology. He campaigned for the natural specimens in the British Museum to be given a new home. This resulted in the establishment, in 1881, of the now world-famous Natural History Museum in London. His later career was tainted by a number of controversies, many of which involved accusations that he took credit for other people's work. He died in 1892 at the age of 88.
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