William Abbott Herdman facts for kids
Sir William Abbott Herdman (born September 5, 1858, in Edinburgh; died July 21, 1924) was a Scottish scientist. He was a marine zoologist, which means he studied animals that live in the sea. He was also an oceanographer, someone who studies the ocean itself. Herdman was a very important scientist who helped us learn a lot about marine life.
William Herdman's Journey
William Herdman was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, Robert Herdman, was an artist. William went to school at Edinburgh Academy from 1870 to 1875.
He later studied at the University of Edinburgh. There, he learned about geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and soil. In 1879, he earned his science degree. He then became an assistant to Sir Charles Wyville Thomson.
In this role, Herdman helped organize a huge amount of information. This information came from the Challenger Expedition. This was a very important journey that explored the world's oceans.
In 1880, Herdman became a teacher of zoology at the University of Edinburgh. A year later, in 1881, he became the first professor of Natural History at Liverpool University College. This college later became the University of Liverpool.
Herdman was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1881. This is a special honor for scientists. He also won the Society's Neill Prize for his work.
In 1890, he started a research station on Puffin Island. This island is off the coast of North Wales. This station was a place where scientists could study the sea.
From 1891, he worked hard to create a laboratory for studying the ocean. He also helped set up special study programs at the university. In 1916, he helped create a geology program. In 1919, he started a program for oceanography.
Herdman wrote a book called Founders of Oceanography and Their Work in 1923. He also made many important discoveries about the animals in the Irish Sea. He was very interested in fishing and how to manage it. He even studied how pearls were collected in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1901-1902. He was an expert in a type of sea animal called tunicates.
Herdman became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1892. This is another very high honor for scientists. He was also the president of the Linnean Society from 1904 to 1908. He led the British Association from 1919 to 1920. In 1922, he was made a knight.
His Final Years
Sir William Abbott Herdman passed away in London on July 21, 1924. He is buried in the eastern part of Highgate Cemetery.
Family Life
Sir William Herdman was married two times. His first wife was Sarah Wyse Douglas, whom he married in 1882. She passed away in 1886. In 1893, he married Jane Brandreth Holt. She was the daughter of a shipping merchant named Alfred Holt.
