Sir Richard Owen : his life and works / by C.W.G. Rohrer.

  • Rohrer, C. W. G. (Caleb Wyand Geeting), 1873-1952.
Date:
[1911]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Sir Richard Owen : his life and works / by C.W.G. Rohrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    [133] and further “ adorn’d,” as the title-page has it, “ with 50 historical cuts,” there are the following entries in Richard Eskrigge’s handwriting: Richard Owen, son of William Owen (who was free of the Fishmongers’ Company) and of Elizabeth Owen. The said Rich- ard was born in the parish of St. Matthew, Friday Street, Decem- ber 5, 1754, and baptized the Sunday following. The sponsors were Richard and Elizabeth Eskrigge and Mr. Beresford (Cashier in the Bank of England).” Then, in Sir Richard Owen’s handwriting, a few explana- tory remarks are added. He writes: The above entries are in the handwriting of my great-grand- father, Richard Eskrigge, of Fulmer Place, Fulmer, Bucks, and relate to the birth of his grandson and heir, my father, Richard Owen. There is also the following entry in the handwriting of Sir Richard Owen’s father: Richard and Catherine Owen were married at Preston, Novem- ber 8, 1792, by the Rev. H. Shuttleworth. This latter Richard Owen was Sir Richard Owen’s father, and the Catherine Owen mentioned was Sir Richard Owen’s mother. Sir Richard Owen’s mother was of French extrac- 1184] tion. She was of a Huguenot family of the name of Parrin, who came over from Provence at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Her full maiden name was Catherine Longworth Parrin. Sir Richard Owen’s mother, besides being a woman of great refinement and intelligence, was an accomplished musician. Her father before her had supported himself by the profession of music, and she inherited his talent. In appearance she was a handsome, Spanish-looking woman, with dark eyes and hair. Owen himself never tired of speaking of his mother’s charm of manner, and of all that he owed to her early train- ing and example. Sir Richard Owen’s father was a complete contrast. Tall, stout and ruddy, his general appearance bore a strong re- semblance to the face and figure popularly supposed to be-