Robert Kidston facts for kids

Robert Kidston (born June 29, 1852 – died July 13, 1924) was a famous Scottish scientist. He was a botanist, which means he studied plants. He was also a palaeobotanist, meaning he studied ancient plants from fossils. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE).

About Robert Kidston

Early Life and Education

Robert Kidston was born on June 29, 1852, in Bishopton House, Renfrewshire. He was the youngest of twelve children. His father, Robert Alexander Kidston, was a businessman from Glasgow.

Robert went to school at the High School in Stirling. Later, he studied botany at the University of Edinburgh.

His Amazing Work

Robert Kidston was one of the best and most important palaeobotanists of his time. He wrote over 180 scientific papers. His work helped us understand how ancient plants were classified and how they lived.

He studied the Rhynie chert, which is a special type of rock with very old plant fossils. He also worked for the British Geological Survey. Interestingly, the Prime Minister Bonar Law was his first cousin!

In the 1880s, the British Museum asked Kidston to organize their collection of ancient plants. These plants were from the Palaeozoic Era, a very long time ago. He started this big job in 1883 and finished it in 1886.

Family Life

For most of his life, Robert lived in Stirling with his three unmarried sisters. Their home was on Victoria Place.

In 1898, he married Agnes Marion Christian Oliphant. She was twenty years younger than him. They had two daughters, named Hannah and Marjory. They lived in a large house at 12 Clarendon Place in Stirling and had several helpers.

Awards and Recognition

Robert Kidston received many honors for his important work.

• In 1886, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He served as the Society's Secretary from 1909 to 1916. He was also a Vice President from 1917 to 1920.
• He won the Society's Neill Prize twice! This was a very special achievement.
• He received honorary doctorates from Glasgow University in 1908 and Manchester University in 1921.
• In June 1902, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
• He won the Murchison Medal from the Geological Society of London in 1916.

Robert Kidston was also a talented photographer. He won two gold medals for his pictures. In 2007, his grandson, Geoffrey Wilkinson, gave his collection of 4,000 glass negatives to the Geological Survey.

Robert Kidston passed away on July 13, 1924, while visiting a friend in Gilfach Goch, Wales. He is buried with his family in Logie Churchyard, near Stirling.