Galton and Building Names at UCL
In October 2014, I proposed to UCL that it change the name of a lecture theatre named for Francis Galton. That letter is here. Read More
Blog
Professor Joe Cain posts on subjects related to his research interests.
What’s an office hour?
Stairwell conversation about office hours You: Hey Joe, what’s an “office hour”? Me: It’s a time when I’m in my office. You: Eh? Me: Sorry. It’s time reserved for students to visit. I’m in my Read More
Darwin in London
During research concerning Charles Darwin and Emma Darwin’s life at number 12 Upper Gower Street, London, I identified several errors and vagaries in biographical material found in standard reference works. This note communicates corrections and Read More
Corruption Exposed in Body-Snatching Business, 1825
In Britain, body-snatching was a cloak-and-dagger business. It also was corrupt. When her husband was arrested, tried, and executed for crimes associated with body-snatching, Ann Millard sought revenge. To her mind, local officials were complicit Read More
Music of the Stars – Live Performance Celebrating History of Astronomy
In May 2011, Dr Silvia De Bianchi organised the workshop, “The Harmony of the Sphere: Kant and Herschel on the universe and the Astronomical Phenomena” at UCL. This brought together research on Kant, Herschel, and astronomy. Read More
Robert Fitzroy is buried in Upper Norwood Cemetery (photographs)
Robert Fitzroy (5 July 1805 – 30 April 1865) is buried in the church yard of All Saints Church, Upper Norwood, London (site). The memorial was restored in 1997. At the time of his death, Fitzroy Read More
No Ordinary Space: UCL Grant Museum (book)
Book on UCL Grant Museum of Zoology UCL’s Grant Museum of Zoology moved to The Thomas Lewis Room in UCL’s Rockefeller Building in 2011. This book answers popular historical questions about the room, the building, Read More
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins: Why I Built the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs
Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins (FGS, FLS) was the sculptor who created the Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. Specifically, he created over thirty statues of prehistoric animals for the Crystal Palace and Park (Sydenham), which opened in June 1854. Read More
Where is the Famous Piltdown Man Excavation Site, East Sussex, England?
The web is full of commentaries about Piltdown Man and its exposure as a fraud. But where is the original locality? The exact location – the spot on the map – is well known to Read More
How Extremely Stupid: Source for Huxley’s Famous Quote
When asked about the Origin of Species and the theory of natural selection, Thomas Henry Huxley told friends, “how extremely stupid not to have thought of that”. This is well-known folklore, and much has been Read More