James Scott Bowerbank
Encyclopedia
James Scott Bowerbank FRS (14 July 1797 – 8 March 1877) was a British
naturalist
and palaeontologist.
, London
, and succeeded in conjunction with his brother to his father's distillery, in which he was actively engaged until 1847.
In early years astronomy
and natural history, especially botany
, engaged much of his attention; he became an enthusiastic worker at the microscope
, studying the structure of shells, coral
s, moss agate
s, and flints. He also formed an extensive collection of fossils. The organic remains of the London Clay
attracted particular attention, and about the year 1836 he and six other workers founded The London Clay Club - the members comprising Dr Bowerbank, Frederick E. Edwards (1799–1875), author of The Eocene Mollusca (Palaeontograph. Soc.
), Searles Valentine Wood
, John Morris
, Alfred White (zoologist), N. T. Wetherell
, surgeon of Highgate (1800–1875), and James De Carle Sowerby
. In Bowerbank published A History of the Fossil Fruits and Seeds of the London Clay, and two years later he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
In 1847 he suggested the establishment of a society for the publication of undescribed British Fossils, and thus originated the Palaeontographical Society
. From 1844 until 1864 he did much to encourage a love of natural science by being at home every Monday evening at his residence in Park Street, Islington
, and afterwards in Highbury Grove, where the treasures of his museum, his 4 microscopes, and his personal assistance were at the service of every earnest student. In the study of sponge
s he became specially interested, and he was author of A Monograph of the British Spongiadae in 4 vols., published by the Ray Society
, 1864–1882. He retired in 1864 to St Leonards-on-Sea
, where he died on 8 March 1877.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
and palaeontologist.
Biography
Bowerbank was born in BishopsgateBishopsgate
Bishopsgate is a road and ward in the northeast part of the City of London, extending north from Gracechurch Street to Norton Folgate. It is named after one of the original seven gates in London Wall...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and succeeded in conjunction with his brother to his father's distillery, in which he was actively engaged until 1847.
In early years astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
and natural history, especially botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, engaged much of his attention; he became an enthusiastic worker at the microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
, studying the structure of shells, coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
s, moss agate
Moss agate
thumb|Moss agate pebble, 1 inch long.Moss agate is a semi-precious gemstone formed from silicon dioxide. This mineral is commonly found in limestone and granite. It is a form of agate which includes minerals of a green colour embedded in the chalcedony, forming filaments and other patterns...
s, and flints. He also formed an extensive collection of fossils. The organic remains of the London Clay
London Clay
The London Clay Formation is a marine geological formation of Ypresian age which crops out in the southeast of England. The London Clay is well known for the fossils it contains. The fossils from the Lower Eocene indicate a moderately warm climate, the flora being tropical or subtropical...
attracted particular attention, and about the year 1836 he and six other workers founded The London Clay Club - the members comprising Dr Bowerbank, Frederick E. Edwards (1799–1875), author of The Eocene Mollusca (Palaeontograph. Soc.
Palaeontographical Society
The Palaeontographical Society is a learned society established in 1847 and specifically devoted to the advancement of palaeontographical knowledge, i.e., palaeontology...
), Searles Valentine Wood
Searles Valentine Wood
Searles Valentine Wood was an English palaeontologist.Wood went to sea in 1811 as a midshipman in the British East India Company's service, which he left, however, in 1826. He then settled at Hasketon near Woodbridge, Suffolk...
, John Morris
John Morris (geologist)
John Morris was an English geologist.Morris was professor of geology at University College, London from 1854 to 1877. He was awarded the Lyell Medal in 1876.-External links:*...
, Alfred White (zoologist), N. T. Wetherell
Nathaniel Wetherell
Dr. Nathaniel Thomas Wetherell MRCS FGS was a British geologist and surgeon. His work involved the collection of various fossils found in England. He was born, lived, and died in Highgate, England....
, surgeon of Highgate (1800–1875), and James De Carle Sowerby
James De Carle Sowerby
James De Carle Sowerby was a British mineralogist and illustrator. He received an education in chemistry.He continued his father's work and published, together with his brother George Brettingham Sowerby I, the latter volumes of the Mineral Conchology of Great Britain, begun by their...
. In Bowerbank published A History of the Fossil Fruits and Seeds of the London Clay, and two years later he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
In 1847 he suggested the establishment of a society for the publication of undescribed British Fossils, and thus originated the Palaeontographical Society
Palaeontographical Society
The Palaeontographical Society is a learned society established in 1847 and specifically devoted to the advancement of palaeontographical knowledge, i.e., palaeontology...
. From 1844 until 1864 he did much to encourage a love of natural science by being at home every Monday evening at his residence in Park Street, Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, and afterwards in Highbury Grove, where the treasures of his museum, his 4 microscopes, and his personal assistance were at the service of every earnest student. In the study of sponge
Sea sponge
Sponges are animals of the phylum Porifera . Their bodies consist of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells. While all animals have unspecialized cells that can transform into specialized cells, sponges are unique in having some specialized cells, but can also have...
s he became specially interested, and he was author of A Monograph of the British Spongiadae in 4 vols., published by the Ray Society
Ray Society
The Ray Society was instituted in 1844 and named after John Ray, the 17th century naturalist, as a scientific publishing organization whose activities are devoted mainly to the British flora and fauna. So far the Ray Society has published 169 volumes...
, 1864–1882. He retired in 1864 to St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
, where he died on 8 March 1877.