William Crawford Williamson
Encyclopedia
William Crawford Williamson (24 November 1816 – 23 June 1895) was an English
naturalist
and palaeobotanist.
iferous beds of the Yorkshire
coast. He was for many years first curator of the Scarborough natural history museum (Rotunda Museum). William Smith
, the "father of English geology
," lived for two years in the Williamsons' house. Young Williamson's maternal grandfather was a lapidary
, and from him he learnt the art of cutting stones.
Entering a medical career, he for three years acted as curator of the Natural History Society's museum at Manchester
. After completing his medical studies at University College, London, in 1841, he returned to Manchester to practise his profession.
When Owen's College at Manchester was founded in 1851 he became professor of natural history there, with the duty of teaching geology, zoology
and botany
. A division of labour took place as additional professors were appointed, but he retained the chair of botany down to 1892. Williamson's teaching work was not confined to his university classes, for he was also a successful popular lecturer, especially for the Gilchrist Trustees. Shortly afterwards retiring in 1892 he moved to Clapham
, where he died.
s of Yorkshire, in 1834 a monograph on the Gristhorpe
Man, and still in 1834, presented to the Geological Society of London
his first memoir on the Mesozoic
fossils of his native district. He assisted Lindley and Hutton in the preparation of their Fossil Flora of Great Britain.
His scientific work was pursued in the midst of official and professional duties. In geology, his early work on the zones of distribution of Mesozoic fossils (begun in 1834), and on the part played by microscopic organisms in the formation of marine deposits (1845), was pioneering. In zoology, his investigations of the development of the teeth and bones of fish
es (1842–1851), and on recent Foraminifera
, a group on which he wrote a monograph for the Ray Society
in 1857, were valuable. In botany, in addition to a memoir on the minute structure of Volvox
(1852), his work on the structure of fossil plants established British palaeobotany on a scientific basis; Williamson ranks with Adolphe Theodore Brongniart
as one of its founders.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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 palaeobotanist.
Life
Williamson was born at Scarborough, North Yorkshire. His father, John Williamson, after beginning life as a gardener, became a well-known local naturalist, who, in conjunction with William Bean, first explored the rich fossilFossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
iferous beds of the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
coast. He was for many years first curator of the Scarborough natural history museum (Rotunda Museum). William Smith
William Smith (geologist)
William 'Strata' Smith was an English geologist, credited with creating the first nationwide geological map. He is known as the "Father of English Geology" for collating the geological history of England and Wales into a single record, although recognition was very slow in coming...
, the "father of English geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
," lived for two years in the Williamsons' house. Young Williamson's maternal grandfather was a lapidary
Lapidary
A lapidary is an artist or artisan who forms stone, mineral, gemstones, and other suitably durable materials into decorative items such as engraved gems, including cameos, or cabochons, and faceted designs...
, and from him he learnt the art of cutting stones.
Entering a medical career, he for three years acted as curator of the Natural History Society's museum at Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. After completing his medical studies at University College, London, in 1841, he returned to Manchester to practise his profession.
When Owen's College at Manchester was founded in 1851 he became professor of natural history there, with the duty of teaching geology, zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and 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...
. A division of labour took place as additional professors were appointed, but he retained the chair of botany down to 1892. Williamson's teaching work was not confined to his university classes, for he was also a successful popular lecturer, especially for the Gilchrist Trustees. Shortly afterwards retiring in 1892 he moved to Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
, where he died.
Works
Williamson when little more than sixteen he published a paper on the rare birdBird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s of Yorkshire, in 1834 a monograph on the Gristhorpe
Gristhorpe
Gristhorpe is a village and civil parish in the Scarboroughdistrict of North Yorkshire, England. According to the 2001 UK census, Gristhorpe parish had a population of 386....
Man, and still in 1834, presented to the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
his first memoir on the Mesozoic
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time from about 250 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. It is often referred to as the age of reptiles because reptiles, namely dinosaurs, were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates of the time...
fossils of his native district. He assisted Lindley and Hutton in the preparation of their Fossil Flora of Great Britain.
His scientific work was pursued in the midst of official and professional duties. In geology, his early work on the zones of distribution of Mesozoic fossils (begun in 1834), and on the part played by microscopic organisms in the formation of marine deposits (1845), was pioneering. In zoology, his investigations of the development of the teeth and bones of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
es (1842–1851), and on recent Foraminifera
Foraminifera
The Foraminifera , or forams for short, are a large group of amoeboid protists which are among the commonest plankton species. They have reticulating pseudopods, fine strands of cytoplasm that branch and merge to form a dynamic net...
, a group on which he wrote a monograph for 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...
in 1857, were valuable. In botany, in addition to a memoir on the minute structure of Volvox
Volvox
Volvox is a genus of chlorophytes, a type of green algae. It forms spherical colonies of up to 50,000 cells. They live in a variety of freshwater habitats, and were first reported by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1700. Volvox developed its colonial lifestyle .-Description:Volvox is the most developed...
(1852), his work on the structure of fossil plants established British palaeobotany on a scientific basis; Williamson ranks with Adolphe Theodore Brongniart
Adolphe Theodore Brongniart
Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart was a French botanist. He was the son of the geologist Alexandre Brongniart and grandson of the architect, Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart. Brongniart's pioneering work on the relationships between extinct and existing plants has earned him the title of father of...
as one of its founders.