William Baird (physician) facts for kids

William Baird (born January 11, 1803, in Eccles, Berwickshire; died January 27, 1872) was a Scottish doctor and scientist. He studied animals, especially tiny water creatures. He is famous for his book, The Natural History of the British Entomostraca, published in 1850.

William Baird's Life Story

William Baird went to school at the High School of Edinburgh. He then studied medicine at several universities. These included the University of Edinburgh, Trinity College Dublin, and the University of Paris.

From 1823 to 1833, Baird worked as a surgeon. He worked for the East India Company. This company was a big British trading company. During this time, he traveled to places like India and China. He was very interested in the plants and animals he saw there. He loved learning about the natural world.

In 1829, he helped start the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club. This was a group for people who loved nature. He often wrote articles for their books. Baird worked as a doctor in London until 1841. After that, he joined the British Museum. He worked in the part of the museum that studied animals. Today, this is part of the Natural History Museum. William Baird is buried in the Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

What Did William Baird Do?

William Baird's most important book was The Natural History of the British Entomostraca. The Ray Society published this book in 1850. Entomostraca are a group of small water creatures. They are often called "shell-crustaceans."

He wrote many other scientific papers. These papers covered a wide range of topics. In 1858, he published a popular science book. It was called Cyclopædia of the Natural Sciences. This book made science easier for everyone to understand.

Baird was a respected scientist. He was a Fellow of the Linnean Society. This is a famous group for natural history. He was also a member of the Imperial and Royal Botanical Society of Vienna. And he was a Fellow of the Royal Society. Being a Fellow of the Royal Society is a very high honor for a scientist.

See also

• Entomostraca