1804-24 
THE PROFESSOR’S MOTHER 
3 
There is also an entry in the handwriting 
Sir Richard Owen’s father. ‘ Richard and 
Catherine Owen were married at Preston, No- 
vember 8, 1792, by the Rev. H. Shuttleworth.’ 
The Professor’s mother was of French extrac- 
tion. She was of a Huguenot family of the 
name of Parrin, who came over from Provence 
9 -t the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. 
Besides being a woman of great refinement and 
intelligence she was an accomplished musician, 
for her father had supported himself by the pro- 
fession of music, and she inherited his talent. In 
appearance she was a handsome, Spanish-looking 
Woman, with dark eyes and hair. Owen himself 
Was never tired of speaking of his mother’s charm 
of manner, and of all that he owed to her early 
training and example. His father was a complete 
contrast. Tall, stout, and ruddy, his general 
Appearance bore a strong resemblance to the face 
And figure popularly supposed to belong to the 
typical John Bull. Nor was his character unlike — 
off, burly, obstinate, and perhaps not particularly 
rilliant, he was yet possessed of sound common- 
^onse. 
Honest and sincere himself, Richard Owen 
the elder expected all with whom he had deal- 
wigs to be the same, and never cpite recovered 
rom the effects of a certain business transaction 
which took place between Napoleon I. and him- 
self. He had already made a considerable fortune 
