Who Was Sir William Boyd Dawkins?
Sir William Boyd Dawkins He was the son of Reverend Richard Dawkins, born at Buttington Vicarage Welshpool, Powys on 26 December 1837. His early education was at Rossall public school (for sons of clergymen of the Established Church) and then at Jesus College Cambridge. He studied classics and natural science. After graduating in 1860 he became an enthusiastic geologist. When he was a young undergraduate he began research into Palaeolithic man. This subject was to be an abiding interest throughout his life. In 1861 appointed to geological survey of Great Britain where he spent 8 years mapping Kent and Thames valley. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1866. In 1869 he was appointed curator of natural history collections at the old Manchester Museum.He also lectured at Owens College (precursor to University of Manchester) where in 1872 he was appointed professor of geology which post he resigned in 1909 at the age of 72. He was made honorary professor. He was knighted in 1919.
