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James Duncan Matthews

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Duncan Matthews FRSE (1851–1890) was a short-lived but influential Scottish zoologist who worked closely with James Cossar Ewart.

Life

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He was born 12 November 1851 at 16 Adelphi Court[1] in Aberdeen the son of the future Lord Provost, James Matthews, an architect, and his wife, Elizabeth Duncan.[2] He originally trained as an architect but in 1869 he suffered a severe attack of typhoid fever which greatly damaged his health. He then entered Aberdeen University studying Zoology under James Cossar Ewart who became a lifelong colleague and friend (Ewart was actually the younger of the pair). He travelled to both Australia and America for educational and health reasons.[3]

He worked with George Brook at the Fishery Board of Scotland involved in food fish research.

In 1883 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were William Turner, James Matthews Duncan, John Gray McKendrick and James Cossar Ewart.[4]

He died on 21 November 1890. He is buried with his parents in St Nicholas Churchyard in Aberdeen.

References

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  1. ^ Aberdeen Post Office Directory 1850
  2. ^ "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report". scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  3. ^ "James Duncan Matthews | Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh | Cambridge Core". cambridge.org. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  4. ^ Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0-902-198-84-X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2017.