Richard Keynes facts for kids
Richard Darwin Keynes, a respected British scientist, was born on August 14, 1919, and passed away on June 12, 2010. He was a physiologist, which means he studied how living things work, especially the human body.
Richard Darwin Keynes was the great-grandson of the famous scientist Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin is known for his theories on evolution and his journey on the ship HMS Beagle. Richard Darwin Keynes helped share his great-grandfather's work by editing a book called The Beagle Record. This book included original drawings and writings from Darwin's famous voyage. It was highly praised by major book reviewers.
Quick facts for kids
Richard Darwin Keynes
CBE FRS |
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| Born | 14 August 1919 |
| Died | 12 June 2010 (aged 90) |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | Editor of the works of Charles Darwin |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Pinsent Adrian |
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| Parent(s) |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physiology |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Richard Darwin Keynes was the oldest son of Geoffrey Keynes and Margaret Elizabeth Darwin. His mother, Margaret, was the daughter of George Darwin, who was Charles Darwin's son.
Richard went to Oundle School and then studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1945, he married Anne Pinsent Adrian. They had four sons: Adrian, Randal Keynes, Roger Keynes, and Simon Keynes.
Scientific Career and Research
During World War II (1940–1945), Richard Keynes worked on projects to help the war effort. He was involved with anti-submarine technology and naval signals.
After the war, he returned to Cambridge University. He finished his degree in Natural Science in 1946. He then became a Research Fellow at Trinity College from 1948 to 1952. During this time, he won two important awards for his research: the Gedge Prize in 1948 and the Rolleston Memorial Prize in 1950.
Roles at Cambridge University
Richard Keynes held many important roles at Cambridge University. He started as a demonstrator in Physiology from 1949 to 1953. Then he became a Lecturer from 1953 to 1960. He was also a Fellow at Peterhouse College from 1952 to 1960. Later, he became an Honorary Fellow there.
He became the Head of the Physiology Department in 1960. He was first the Deputy Director (1960–1964) and then the Director (1965–1973). He also directed the ARC Institute of Animal Physiology from 1965 to 1972. From 1973 to 1987, he was a Professor of Physiology. He was also a Fellow of Churchill College starting in 1961.
International Contributions
Beyond Cambridge, Richard Keynes was very active in the global scientific community. He served as the Secretary-General of the International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics from 1972 to 1978. He later became its Vice-President (1978–1981) and then President (1981–1984).
He also chaired the International Cell Research Organisation from 1981 to 1983. He led the ICSU/Unesco International Biosciences Networks from 1982 to 1993. In 1991, he was the President of the European Federation of Physiological Societies.
Richard Keynes was also a Vice-President of the Royal Society from 1965 to 1968. He was invited to give the Croonian Lecture in 1983, which is a very prestigious scientific talk. He was a Fellow of Eton College from 1963 to 1978. He was also recognized by scientific academies in other countries, including Denmark, the United States, and Brazil.
