George Busk
Encyclopedia
George Busk RN
FRS (12 August 1807 – 10 August 1886) was a British
Naval
surgeon
, zoologist and palaeontologist.
. On August 12, 1843, he married Ellen Busk, his first cousin.
He studied surgery in London
, at both St Thomas'
and St Bartholomew's
hospital
s, and was appointed assistant-surgeon
to the Greenwich Hospital in 1832. He served as naval surgeon first in the HMS Grampus
.
Later Busk served for many years in HMS Dreadnought
, which had fought at Trafalgar
. In Busk's time it was used by the Seamen's Hospital Society
as a hospital ship for ex-members of the Merchant Navy
or fishing fleet and their dependants. During this period Busk made important observations on cholera
and on scurvy
.
In 1855, he retired from service and settled in London
, where he devoted himself mainly to the study of zoology and palaeontology. As early as 1842, he assisted in editing the Microscopical Journal; and later he edited the Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science
(1853–68) and the Natural History Review
(1861–65). He was a member of the famous X-Club founded by Huxley, which was active in revitalising science in the period 1865-1885. Busk and his wife Ellen were close friends of Huxley. Busk nominated Charles Darwin
for membership in the Royal Society in 1864.
From 1856–59, he was Hunterian Professor of Comparative Anatomy
and Physiology
in the Royal College of Surgeons
, and he became President of the college in 1871. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1850. Busk was an active member of the Linnean Society
, the Geological Society
and president of the Anthropological Institute
(1873–74). He received the Royal Society's Royal Medal
and the Geological Society
's Wollaston
and Lyell
medals.
He was the leading authority on the Polyzoa; and later the vertebrate
remains from cave
rns and river
-deposits occupied his attention. In 1862, Busk was again in Gibraltar, and was the responsible of bringing to England the so-called Gibraltar skull (the first known adult Neanderthal
skull, and only the second Neanderthal fossil
ever to be found, excavated at Gibraltar in 1848). The identification of the skull as belonging to a Neanderthal was not made until the 20th century.
He was a patient and cautious investigator, full of knowledge, and unaffectedly simple in character. He died in London on the 10 August 1886, and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery
, London.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
FRS (12 August 1807 – 10 August 1886) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Naval
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, zoologist and palaeontologist.
Biography
Busk was born in St Petersburg, the son of the merchant Robert Busk and grandson of Sir Wadsworth BuskWadsworth Busk
Sir Wadsworth Busk was Attorney-General of the Isle of Man from 1774 to 1797. He was knighted in 1781.He entered Middle Temple in 1744 and was called to the bar in 1755....
. On August 12, 1843, he married Ellen Busk, his first cousin.
He studied surgery in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, at both St Thomas'
St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
and St Bartholomew's
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s, and was appointed assistant-surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
to the Greenwich Hospital in 1832. He served as naval surgeon first in the HMS Grampus
HMS Grampus (1802)
HMS Grampus was a 50-gun fourth-rate ship of the line of the Diomede Class of the Royal Navy. She was commissioned in March 1803 at Portsmouth by Captain Hugh Downman, but in the following month command passed to Captain Thomas Gordon Caulfield. The ship was completed on 11 April 1803 and was...
.
Later Busk served for many years in HMS Dreadnought
HMS Dreadnought (1801)
HMS Dreadnought was a Royal Navy 98-gun second rate. This ship of the line was launched at Portsmouth at midday on Saturday, 13 June 1801, after she had spent 13 years on the stocks...
, which had fought at Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
. In Busk's time it was used by the Seamen's Hospital Society
Seamen's Hospital Society
The Seamen's Hospital Society is a UK charity established in 1821 with the purpose of helping people currently or previously employed in the Merchant Navy or fishing fleets, and their dependants...
as a hospital ship for ex-members of the Merchant Navy
Merchant Navy
The Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency...
or fishing fleet and their dependants. During this period Busk made important observations on cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
and on scurvy
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus, which also provides the adjective scorbutic...
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he devoted himself mainly to the study of zoology and palaeontology. As early as 1842, he assisted in editing the Microscopical Journal; and later he edited the Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science
Journal of Cell Science
The Journal of Cell Science is a peer-reviewed scientific journal in the field of cell biology. The journal is published by the The Company of Biologists with 24 annual issues....
(1853–68) and the Natural History Review
Natural History Review
The Natural History Review was a short-lived, quarterly journal devoted to natural history. It was published in Dublin and London between 1854 and 1865....
(1861–65). He was a member of the famous X-Club founded by Huxley, which was active in revitalising science in the period 1865-1885. Busk and his wife Ellen were close friends of Huxley. Busk nominated Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
for membership in the Royal Society in 1864.
From 1856–59, he was Hunterian Professor of Comparative Anatomy
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
and Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
in the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
, and he became President of the college in 1871. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1850. Busk was an active member of the Linnean Society
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
, the Geological Society
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
and president of the Anthropological Institute
Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is the world's longest established anthropological organization, with a global membership. Since 1843, it has been at the forefront of new developments in anthropology and new means of communicating them to a broad audience...
(1873–74). He received the Royal Society's Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
and the Geological Society
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
's Wollaston
Wollaston Medal
The Wollaston Medal is a scientific award for geology, the highest award granted by the Geological Society of London.The medal is named after William Hyde Wollaston, and was first awarded in 1831...
and Lyell
Lyell Medal
The Lyell Medal is a prestigious annual scientific medal given by the Geological Society of London, equal in status to the Murchison Medal, awarded on the basis of research to an Earth Scientist of exceptional quality...
medals.
He was the leading authority on the Polyzoa; and later the vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
remains from cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
rns and river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
-deposits occupied his attention. In 1862, Busk was again in Gibraltar, and was the responsible of bringing to England the so-called Gibraltar skull (the first known adult Neanderthal
Neanderthal
The Neanderthal is an extinct member of the Homo genus known from Pleistocene specimens found in Europe and parts of western and central Asia...
skull, and only the second Neanderthal fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
ever to be found, excavated at Gibraltar in 1848). The identification of the skull as belonging to a Neanderthal was not made until the 20th century.
He was a patient and cautious investigator, full of knowledge, and unaffectedly simple in character. He died in London on the 10 August 1886, and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
, London.