Lankester, Sir E. Ray (1847-1929), British zoologist and evolutionary biologist.

E. (his first name "Edwin" was never used) Ray Lankester was born on 15 May 1847, a son of Edwin Lankester (1814-74), a coroner and doctor-naturalist. He attended Downing College, Cambridge and Christ Church, Oxford and got his first-class honours (from the latter) in 1868. He became a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford in 1873.

He was professor of Zoology at University College London from 1874 to 1890, Linacre Professor of Comparative Anatomy at Oxford University from 1891 to 1898, and director of the Natural History Museum from 1898 to 1907.

He was influential as a teacher and was an important writer of popular science (including newspaper columns). He was awarded the Copley Medal of the Royal Society in 1913 and died on 13 August 1929.

At Wellcome Collection:

MS.5400/118, 177-182, in Lee Papers (MSS.5376-5401); PP/CJS/A.11 in Singer, Charles Joseph and Singer, Dorothea Waley collection; MS. 8781