Sir Richard Owen, English naturalist and paleontologist, c 1845.

Photogravure after a painting by H W Pickersgill, c 1845. Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892) studied comparative anatomy under John Barclay (1758-1826) at Edinburgh University, continuing his studies at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. In 1826 he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. From 1836-56 he was Hunterian Profesor of Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, and, from 1856-83, the first Superintendent of the British Museum. He is famous for his work on British fosils, and his categorisation of dinosaurs. He opposed Darwin's (1809-1882) theory of evolution which eventually led to his academic downfall. From a collection of portraits of scientists published by Photographische Gesellschaft, Berlin, 1910. Dimensions: 460mm x 340mm.