1858 - 1924 (65 years)
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| Name |
William Abbott Herdman |
| Prefix |
Professor Sir |
| Suffix |
CBE, FRS |
| Birth |
8 Sep 1858 |
32 Danube Street, Edinburgh  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
21 Jul 1924 |
161 Drummond Street, Pancras, London |
| Person ID |
I94506 |
My Genealogy |
| Last Modified |
17 Nov 2020 |
| Family 1 |
Sarah Wyse Douglas, b. 23 May 1861, Edinburgh, Scotland d. 22 Apr 1886, 35 Bentley Road, Liverpool, England (Age 24 years) |
| Marriage |
6 Jul 1882 |
St Bernard's, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Children |
| | 1. Beatrice Sophie Herdman, b. 25 Jul 1883, 99 Bedford Street, Mount Pleasant, Liverpoo d. 31 May 1978, St Vincent's Hospice, Broadgreen Road, Old Swan, Liverpool (Age 94 years) |
| | 2. Winifred Flora Sarah Herdman, b. 3 Apr 1886, 35 Bentley Road, Liverpool, England d. 20 Sep 1976, "Lenox", 5 Rose Lane, Mossley Hill, Wavertree (Age 90 years) |
|
| Family ID |
F34528 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
24 Jan 2013 |
| Family 2 |
Jane Brandreth Holt d. 7 Nov 1922, Croxteth Lodge, Ullet Road, Liverpool, England |
| Marriage |
28 Dec 1893 |
The Ancient Chapel of Toxteth Park, Park Road, Liverpool |
| Children |
| | 1. Lieutenant George Andrew Herdman, b. 1895, Liverpool, England d. 1 Jul 1916, Thiepval, Somme, France (Age 21 years) |
| | 2. Emma Catherine Herdman, b. 1899, Liverpool, England d. 21 Mar 1953, Royal Infirmary, Edge Hill, Liverpool (Age 54 years) |
|
| Family ID |
F34536 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
24 Jan 2013 |
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| Notes |
- Born Edinburgh 5 September 1858, son of Richard Herdman (of Perth) who describes himself as 'Artist Portrait And History' and Emma (born Ireland). Studied geology under Sir Archibald Geikie at Edinburgh University; in 1881 census found at home, 12 Bruntsfield Crescent Edinburgh, where he describes himself as 'Doctor In Natl Science & Assist To Prof Nat Hist Edinr Univ'. Later in 1881 appointed to Derby Chair of Natural History at Liverpool University College (later to become Liverpool University) and held this post until 1919 then that of Professor of Oceanography from 1919 to 1920. Knighted 1922; died 21 July 1924 and is buried in Highgate Cemetery (East) London.
He was widely known as a great marine zoologist and oceanographer, however he maintained a keen interest in geology and filled the office of President of the Liverpool Geological Society from 1898 to 1900, being awarded the Society's medal in 1922 in recognition of his furtherance of local geological work. His son Second-Lieut. George A., King's Liverpool Regiment, was killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, as a memorial he and his wife endowed the George Herdman Chair of Geology in memory of their son, another memorial took the form of the George Herdman Institute in Port Erin. Later, in 1919, they also endowed a Chair of Oceanography in the University. Following the death of Lady Herdman in 1922, he donated ?20,000 towards the cost of new geological laboratories.
His connection with the Island came via his work in marine biology - elected as a corresponding member of the IoMH&ASoc in 1886. The Liverpool Marine Biology Committee (LMBC) had established a research station on Puffin Island but in 1892 a new, larger and better equipped station was opened at Port Erin, some history of this station can be gained from the series of annual Reports and the contributions to the 1896 BA handbook.
He also had an interest in archaeology - was associated with P.M.C. Kermode in investigating the Mull Circle and Cronk Howe Mooar - Kermode and he wrote a small 'Illustrated Notes on Manks Antiquities' published in 1904 and later revised for Manx Antiquities of 1914. He was elected President of the IoMNH&ASoc for 1913.
Did some local Liverpool archaeology - e.g. 'A Contribution to the History of the Calderstones, near Liverpool' (1896) W.A Herdman produced a new interpretation of the calderstones near Liverpool see http://www.btinternet.com/~m.royden/mrlhp/local/calders/calders.htm -
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