Abstract
WILLIAM KITCHEN PARKER was born at Dogsthorpe, near Peterborough, June 23, 1823, and died suddenly, of syncope of the heart, July 3, 1890. He was visiting his second son, Prof. W. N. Parker, at Cardiff, and, whilst cheerfully talking of late discoveries and future work in his favourite biological pursuits, he ceased to breathe. Accustomed to outdoor life, he was a true lover of Nature from the first; the forms, habits, and songs of birds, especially, he knew at an early age. Village schooling at Dogsthorpe and Werrington, and a short period at Peterborough Grammar School, prepared him for an apprenticeship, at 15 years of age, to Mr. Woodroffe, chemist and druggist at Stamford; and three years afterwards he was apprenticed to Mr. Costal, medical practitioner, at Market-Overton. At Stamford he studied botany earnestly, and used to persuade a fellow-apprentice to leave his bed in early mornings to go afield in search of plants. Both when living at his father's farm, and in his holidays afterwards, he kept many pet animals, and dissected whatever he could get, including a donkey and many birds. Of the latter he prepared skeletons; and of these he made many large drawings, at Market-Overton, which of late years he had some thought of publishing as an atlas of the osteology of birds. In 1844–46 he studied at King's College, London; and became student-demonstrator to Dr. Todd and Mr. (now Sir William) Bowman there. He also attended at Charing Cross Hospital in 1846 and 1847, and, having qualified as L.S.A., he commenced practice, in 1849, at Tach-brook Street, Pimlico; and soon afterwards married Miss Elizabeth Jeffery. His wife's patient calmness under all difficulties and trials was a true blessing to a man of Mr. Parker's excitable temperament; and her unselfish life and widespread influence for good are well known in and beyond the family circle. Unfortunately he was left a widower about four months ago. His family consists of three daughters and four sons. Of the latter, one is Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy in the University of Otago, New Zealand; the second is Professor of Biology in the University College at Cardiff, South Wales; the third is an able draughtsman and lithographer; and the fourth has lately taken his diplomas of L.R.C.P. and M.R.C.S.
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William Kitchen Parker, F.R.S. Nature 42, 297–299 (1890). https://doi.org/10.1038/042297a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/042297a0