Sir Charles Wyville Thomson
| Sir Charles Wyville Thomson | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
March 5, 1830 Linlithgow, West Lothian |
| Died | March 10, 1882 (aged 52) |
| Resting place | Linlithgow |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Alma mater |
Merchiston Castle School University of Edinburgh |
| Known for | Challenger expedition |
| Awards |
FRSE FRS FLS FGS FZS Royal Medal (1876) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Marine zoology |
| Institutions |
University of Aberdeen(1850–1851) Marischal College(1851–52) Queen's College, Cork Queen's University of Belfast |
Sir Charles Wyville Thomson FRSE FRS FLS FGS FZS (5 March 1830 – 10 March 1882) was a Scottish natural historian and marine zoologist. He served as the chief scientist on the Challenger expedition; his work there revolutionised oceanography and led to his knighthood.
Thomson was born at Bonsyde, in Linlithgow, West Lothian, on 5 March 1830, the son of Andrew Thomson, a surgeon in the service of the East India Company, and Sarah Ann Drummond Smith. He was baptised Wyville Thomas Charles Thomson, and only changed his name late in life, in 1876.
He was educated under Charles Chalmers at Merchiston Castle School, then from 1845 studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh (graduating MD). However, his focus turned from medicine towards natural science, and he joined the Botanical Society of Edinburgh in 1847, and soon after became secretary to the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh. In 1850 he was attending the botany class of John Hutton Balfour at the university.
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