First 'Sir Richard Owen' lectures will celebrate Lancaster scientist who created term 'dinosaur'

The legendary Lancaster scientist who coined the term 'dinosaur' will be celebrated at the inaugural 'Richard Owen lectures' in the city.

Sir Richard Owen (1804–1892), born in Brock Street in Lancaster and educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, was a distinguished English biologist, anatomist, and paleontologist.

He coined the term 'dinosaur' after identifying shared traits in fossil reptiles like Iguanodon and Megalosaurus.

Owen helped establish London’s Natural History Museum, which opened in 1881.

A prolific writer on living and extinct animals, he opposed Darwin’s theory of natural selection, favouring a divinely guided view of evolution.

The lecture will feature Dr Michael Brown, lecturer in Modern History, Lancaster University, talking about Richard Owen and the politics and practice of surgery in Victorian Britain; Leah George Demetriou FLS, independent historical researcher specialising in Victorian Life Sciences & Richard Owen, talking about 'A matter of perspective: An alternate theory of Richard Owen's personality'.

Tickets are £5 each.

With ticket plus membership for £10 you get free entrance, 12 months membership to talks and activities plus 10 per cent discount at the Museum shop.

The lecture is on Saturday July 19 from 10am-1pm at the Storey Lecture Theatre in Lancaster and is organised by the Friends of the City Museum.

You can book HERE.