William Broderip facts for kids
William John Broderip (born November 21, 1789 – died February 27, 1859) was an English lawyer who also loved studying nature. He was a naturalist, meaning he studied animals, plants, and rocks.
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About William Broderip
William Broderip was born in Bristol, England, on November 21, 1789. His father, also named William Broderip, was a surgeon. William went to Bristol Grammar School and then studied at Oriel College, Oxford. He finished his first degree in 1812.
His Education and Career
While at Oxford, William learned about anatomy, chemistry, and minerals. After college, he decided to become a lawyer. He studied law and became a lawyer in 1817. He worked as a lawyer for a few years.
In 1822, he became a magistrate at the Thames police court. A magistrate is like a judge who handles smaller legal cases. He worked there for many years, then moved to another court in Westminster. He had to stop working in 1856 because he became deaf.
His Love for Nature
William Broderip was very passionate about collecting things, especially shells. He gathered a huge collection of shells, which was later bought by the British Museum. This museum is a famous place where many important historical and scientific items are kept.
He was also very involved in scientific groups. He became a member of the Linnean Society in 1824, which is a group for people who study nature. In 1825, he joined the Geological Society, which focuses on rocks and the Earth. He also became a member of the Royal Society in 1828, a very old and respected scientific group.
William helped start the Zoological Society in 1826. This society helps study and protect animals, and it runs the London Zoo. He even served as a secretary for the Geological Society for a while.
William Broderip passed away on February 27, 1859, in London. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.
What He Wrote
William Broderip wrote many things, especially about nature. He wrote articles for scientific groups like the Geological Society and the Zoological Society.
His Writings on Animals
One of his famous writings was about a tame beaver. He wrote about how the beaver behaved, showing how good he was at observing animals. He also wrote for popular magazines like the New Monthly Magazine and Fraser's Magazine. These articles were later put into books called Zoological Recreations (1847) and Leaves from the Note-book of a Naturalist (1852).
He wrote many articles about animals for a large encyclopedia called the Penny Cyclopædia. He covered topics like mammals, birds, reptiles, crustacea (like crabs), and mollusca (like snails and clams). His last article, about sharks, was published in 1859.
His Books
Besides his many articles, William Broderip also wrote or helped with these books:
- Guide to the Gardens of the Zoological Society (1829) – He wrote this with Nicholas A. Vigors.
- Hints for collecting Animals and their Products (1832) – This book gave tips on how to collect animal specimens.
- Memoir of the Dodo (1861) – He wrote the historical introduction for this book about the Dodo, a bird that is now extinct.
