Ray Lankester

Updated on Apr 25, 2026

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Nationality British Name Ray Lankester Known for Evolution, Rationalism		Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford Fields Zoology Parents Edwin Lankester

Born 15 May 1847London ( 1847-05-15 ) Institutions University College LondonOxford UniversityBritish Museum (Natural History) Influences Thomas Henry Huxley, August Weismann, Anton Dohrn Died August 13, 1929, Chelsea, London, United Kingdom Education St Paul's School, London, St John's School, Leatherhead, Christ Church, Oxford Awards Copley Medal, Royal Medal, Linnean Medal, Darwin–Wallace Medal Books Extinct Animals, Science from an easy chair, Diversions of a naturalist, Life of Elie Metchnikoff - 1845‑1916, The Kingdom Of Man Similar People Thomas Henry Huxley, Karl Gegenbaur, Raphael Weldon, Stephen Jay Gould, Francis Galton

Sir Edwin Ray Lankester (15 May 1847 – 13 August 1929) was a British zoologist.

An invertebrate zoologist and evolutionary biologist, he held chairs at University College London and Oxford University. He was the third Director of the Natural History Museum, and was awarded the Copley Medal of the Royal Society.

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