Francis Arthur Bather facts for kids
Francis Arthur Bather (born February 17, 1863, in Richmond upon Thames; died March 20, 1934) was a British scientist who studied ancient life, rocks, and shells. He was known as a palaeontologist, a geologist, and a malacologist.
His mother, Lucy Elizabeth Blomfield, was the daughter of Charles Blomfield, who was a Bishop (a high-ranking church leader). His father, Arthur Henry Bather, worked for the Navy.
A Career in Science
Working at the Museum
Francis Bather started working at the Natural History Museum in London in 1887. He joined the Geology Department, which is where scientists study rocks and the Earth's history. He worked his way up and became the "Keeper" (a senior leader) of the department in 1924. He retired from the museum in 1928.
Awards and Recognition
Francis Bather was a very respected scientist. He received many important awards and was part of several famous scientific groups:
- He won the Lyell Medal from the Geological Society for his work in geology. He also served as the president of this society.
- He was an Honorary Member of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall.
- In 1909, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very old and important scientific group in the UK.
- In 1928, he became an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- In 1932, he received the Mary Clark Thompson Medal from the National Academy of Sciences in the United States.
Family Life
Francis Bather married Stina Bergöö. Her father, Adolf Bergöö, was from Stockholm, and her sister, Karin Bergöö Larsson, was a famous Swedish artist. Francis and Stina had three children: one daughter and two sons. A photograph of him can be found in the National Gallery.
