XXII 

 BIOGKAPHICAL NOTICE OF SIE EICHAED OWEN 1 



EICHAED OWEN was born at Lancaster on 20th July 1804. 

 His father, whose name was also Eichard, was engaged in 

 business connected with the West Indies. His mother's name 

 was Catherine Parrin. He was educated at the Grammar 

 School at Lancaster (where one of his schoolfellows was 

 W. Whewell, afterwards Master of Trinity), was apprenticed 

 to a surgeon of the name of Harrison in that town, and studied 

 surgery at the County Hospital. No evidence can now be 

 found for the statement which has appeared in many bio- 

 graphical notices that when a boy he went to sea as a 

 midshipman, nor is there any that at a later period he had 

 an intention to enter the medical service of the Navy, or 

 applied for and obtained an appointment, as has also been stated. 



In 1824 he matriculated at the University of Edinburgh, 

 and had the good fortune to attend the anatomical course of 

 Dr. Barclay, then approaching the close of a successful career 

 as an extra-academical lecturer, whose teaching was of a very 

 superior order to that of the third Monro, who, by virtue of 

 hereditary influences, happened at that time to be the Uni- 

 versity Professor of Anatomy. In his work On the Nature of 

 Limls, Owen refers to " the extensive knowledge of comparative 

 anatomy possessed by my revered preceptor in anatomy, Dr. 

 Barclay," and always spoke of him with affectionate regard. 



He did not remain in Edinburgh to take his degree, but 

 removed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, and passed 

 the examination for the membership of the Eoyal College of 

 Surgeons on 18th August 1826. 

 1 From the Proceedings of the Royal Society, vol. Iv. 1894, with slight alterations. 



