William Dickson Lang facts for kids

William Dickson Lang (born September 28, 1878 – died March 3, 1966) was an important British scientist. He was a palaeontologist, which means he studied fossils. He worked at the British Museum (which is now called the Natural History Museum, London). From 1928 to 1938, he was in charge of the Geology Department there.

Early Life and School

William Lang was born in India in a place called Kurnal. His father worked for the government. When William was just one year old, his family moved back to England from India.

Education Journey

William went to two well-known schools in England: Christ's Hospital School and Harrow School. In 1898, he went to Pembroke College, Cambridge to study zoology, which is the study of animals. He earned his first degree in 1902 and a master's degree in 1905.

Working at the Museum

In 1902, William Lang started working at the Geology Department of the British Museum. He was an assistant and his job was to look after collections of tiny sea creatures like protozoa, corals, sponges, and bryozoans (also called polyzoa).

World War I Work

During World War I, William had a different job. He became a specialist in mosquitoes. In 1920, he even wrote a book called "A Handbook on British Mosquitos." This book helped people understand more about these insects.

Leading the Geology Department

After the war, William went back to the Geology Department. In 1928, he became the "Keeper of Geology." This meant he was the head of the department. He was in charge of all the fossil collections and research.

Honored for His Work

In May 1929, William Lang was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very special honor for scientists in the UK. It showed how important his work was. People recognized him for his deep knowledge of fossils. He studied how ancient sea creatures like bryozoans and corals changed over time. He also carefully mapped out the different layers of rock and fossils along the Dorset coast in England.

Later Years and Retirement

William Lang was a kind and helpful mentor to many students. He let them use the museum's resources for their own studies. In 1938, he retired from the British Museum. He moved to Charmouth, a town in Dorset, England, where he had enjoyed holidays since he was young.

Continued Research and Writing

Even after retiring, William kept busy with science. In 1940, he worked with other geologists, Stanley Smith and H. Dighton Thomas, to publish a guide to ancient coral groups. He also wrote several articles about Mary Anning, a famous fossil collector from Dorset. He published over 130 scientific papers in his lifetime.

Community Involvement

William Lang was also involved in his local community. He was the president of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society from 1938 to 1940. He also served on its council for many years. He was well-liked and respected by his friends and colleagues.

Family Life

William Lang married Georgiana Dixon in 1908. They had a son named W. Geoffrey Lang and a daughter named J. Brenda Lang. William Lang passed away in 1966, leaving behind his wife and children.