L. Harrison Matthews
Encyclopedia
Dr Leonard Harrison Matthews FRS
(12 June 1901 – 27 November 1986) was a British zoologist, especially known for his research and writings on marine mammal
s.
. He studied Natural Science
s at Cambridge University. He was involved with the British Colonial Office backed Discovery Investigations
from 1924 to 1929, during which he was largely based on the subantarctic
island of South Georgia studying the biology of whale
s and Southern Elephant Seal
s. He then held an academic position at Bristol University
. During the Second World War
he worked on radio communications and radar. He served as Scientific Director of the Zoological Society of London
from 1951 to 1966.
His younger brother was the physiologist Sir Bryan Harold Cabot Matthews CBE FRS.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(12 June 1901 – 27 November 1986) was a British zoologist, especially known for his research and writings on marine mammal
Marine mammal
Marine mammals, which include seals, whales, dolphins, and walruses, form a diverse group of 128 species that rely on the ocean for their existence. They do not represent a distinct biological grouping, but rather are unified by their reliance on the marine environment for feeding. The level of...
s.
Life
Matthews was born in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. He studied Natural Science
Natural Sciences (Cambridge)
The Natural Sciences Tripos is one of the several courses which form the University of Cambridge system of undergraduate teaching...
s at Cambridge University. He was involved with the British Colonial Office backed Discovery Investigations
Discovery Investigations
The Discovery Investigations were a series of scientific cruises and shore-based investigations into the biology of whales in the Southern Ocean. They were funded by the British Colonial Office and organised by the Discovery Committee in London, which was formed in 1918...
from 1924 to 1929, during which he was largely based on the subantarctic
Subantarctic
The Subantarctic is a region in the southern hemisphere, located immediately north of the Antarctic region. This translates roughly to a latitude of between 46° – 60° south of the Equator. The subantarctic region includes many islands in the southern parts of the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and...
island of South Georgia studying the biology of whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
s and Southern Elephant Seal
Southern Elephant Seal
The Southern Elephant Seal is one of the two extant species of elephant seal. It is both the most massive pinniped and member of the order Carnivora living today...
s. He then held an academic position at Bristol University
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he worked on radio communications and radar. He served as Scientific Director of the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
from 1951 to 1966.
His younger brother was the physiologist Sir Bryan Harold Cabot Matthews CBE FRS.
Honours
- 1954 – Fellow of the Royal Society
- Harrison PointHarrison PointHarrison Point is a point marked by a string of off-lying rocks, lying 1.5 nautical miles west of Busen Point on the south side of Stromness Bay, South Georgia. Charted in 1927 by DI personnel and named Matthews Point for L. Harrison Matthews, British zoologist and member of the staff of the...
and Matthews PointMatthews PointMatthews Point is a point forming the west side of the entrance to Undine Harbor, along the south coast and near the west end of South Georgia. Charted in the period 1926-30 by DI personnel and named for L. Harrison Matthews, British zoologist, member of the staff of the Discovery Investigations,...
in South Georgia are named after him
Publications
As well as numerous scientific papers and reports, Matthews also authored several books about his experiences in South Georgia. His publications include:- 1931 – South Georgia, the Empire's Sub-Antarctic Outpost. John Wright & Sons: Bristol.
- 1934 – The Marine Deposits of the Patagonian Continental Shelf. (Discovery Reports). Cambridge University Press.
- 1937 – The Humpback whale, Megaptera Nodosa, (Discovery reports). Cambridge University Press.
- 1938 – The Sei whale, Balaenoptera Borealis. (Discovery reports). Cambridge University Press.
- 1938 – Notes on the Southern Right whale, Eubalaena Australis. (Discovery reports). Cambridge University Press.
- 1938 – The Sperm whale, Physeter Catodon. (Discovery reports). Cambridge University Press.
- 1939 – Reproduction in the Spotted Hyena. Cambridge University Press, for the Royal Society.
- 1951 – Wandering Albatross: Adventures among the Albatrosses and Petrels in the Southern Ocean. London. Macgibbon & Kee, with Reinhardt & Evans: London.
- 1952 – The British Amphibia and Reptiles. (Field study books series). Methuen: London.
- 1952 – British mammals. (New Naturalist 21). Collins: London.
- 1952 – Sea Elephant: The Life and Death of the Elephant Seal. MacGibbon & Kee: London.
- 1956 – The sexual skin of the Gelada Baboon (Theropithecus gelada). Transactions of the Zoological Society of London.
- 1962 – History of Pharmacy in Britain. E. & S. Livingstone: Edinburgh.
- 1963 – The Senses of Animals. (With Maxwell Knight). Scientific Book Club: London.
- 1968 – The Whale. Allen & Unwin: London.
- 1969-1971 – The Life of Mammals. (2 vols). Weidenfeld & Nicolson: London.
- 1973 – Charles Waterton: Wanderings in South America. (Editor and Introduction). Oxford University Press: Oxford. ISBN 0-19-255405-0
- 1975 – Man and Wildlife. (Biology and Environment series). Croom Helm: London.
- 1977 – Penguin. Adventures among the Birds, Beasts and Whalers of the Far South. Peter Owen: London. ISBN 0-7206-0504-0
- 1978 – The Natural History of the Whale. Weidenfeld and Nicolson: London. ISBN 0-297-77443-3
- 1979 – The Seals and the Scientists. Peter Owen: London. ISBN 0-7206-0524-5
- 1982 – Mammals in the British Isles. (New Naturalist 68). Collins: London. ISBN 0-00-219738-3