Sir charles whyville thomson biography of rory

Scottish natural historian and marine zoologist; pioneer of oceanography

Sir Charles Wyville ThomsonFRSE FRS FLS FGS FZS (5 March – 10 March ) was a Scottish natural historian and marine zoologist.

Thomson, Sir Charles Wyville - Encyclopedia.com

He served as the chief scientist on the Challenger expedition; his work there revolutionized oceanography and led to his being knighted.

Life

Thomson was born at Bonsyde, in Linlithgow, West Lothian, on 5 March , the son of Andrew Thomson, a surgeon in the service of the East India Company, and his wife Sarah Ann Drummond Smith.

He was baptised Wyville Thomas Charles Thomson, but changed his name formally upon being knighted in ^[3][1]

He was educated under Charles Chalmers at Merchiston Castle School, then from studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh graduating with an MD. However, his focus turned from medicine to natural science, and he joined the Botanical Society of Edinburgh in , and soon after beca Charles Wyville Thomson and the Challenger Expedition SUQ