| Activity | Museum Staff: Unofficial worker in Department of Zoology, c 1882-1915. Produced catalogues for BMNH
Richard Lydekker is not one of the great names in the history of zoogeographical inquiry, but he did explore the subject frequently, often as a function of his studies in vertebrate paleontology. As a young man he joined the Geological Survey of India, and there he was able to carry out extensive investigations that prepared him for his later position with the British Museum of Natural History. On returning from India he was charged by the Museum to prepare catalogues of their fossil vertebrate collections; this was accomplished in less than ten years. In his later years Lydekker took an increasing interest in public venues, contributing to changes in exhibit design at the Museum and preparing many writings of a more popular orientation.
Educated: Cambridge, 1st class in Natural Sciences tripos 1871. Geological Survey of India 1874-1882, exploring Kashmir and working on Survey's collection of vertebrate tertiary fossils from Siwalik beds at Indian Museum, Calcutta. Prepared the mammal section of 'Zoological Record' 1887 - 1913. Visited Argentina 1893 to study fossil mammals there. Served on the council of Zoological Society of London 1898 - 1900.
Zoological work fell into two areas - research into vertebrate palaeontology, and popular books for sportsmen
Fellow, Royal Society, 1894. Geological Society Lyell Medal 1902.
Tring correspondent |