Person Fortey; Richard Alan (1946 - 2025); palaeontologist Fortey Richard Alan palaeontologist 1946 - 2025 British Male Ealing, West London, England, United Kingdom 15/02/1946 19460215 England, United Kingdom 07/03/2025 20250307

Palaeontologist Earth sciences Science communication Evolution Geology Natural history Mycology Invertebrate palaeontology Palaeontology Education: Ealing Grammar School for Boys; King's College, Cambridge (BA 1968; MA 1970; Ph.D 1971) Career: Research fellow, Natural History Museum, London, England (1970-73); senior science officer (1973-77); principal science officer (1978-86); senior principal science officer (1988-91); merit researcher and senior paleontologist (1991-2006); Visiting professor, University of Oxford (2000); Collier professor in the public understanding of science and technology, University of Bristol (2002); retired from the Natural History Museum (2006); died of cancer. Memberships: FGS (President 2007) Palaeontographical Society (President 2007-08) Palaeontological Association British Mycological Society Awards/Medals: Frink Medal 2000 Linnean Medal 2006 Lyell Medal Honours: OBE 2023 for services to palaeontology and geology Parents: Frank (a fisher) and Margaret (nee Wilshin). Spouse: 1) (m. 3 October 1969, divorced 1974) Bridget Thomas; 2) (m. 21 June 1971) Jacqueline Francis, editor Children: (first marriage) Dominic; (second marriage) Leo, Rebecca, Julia Studied the evolution of arthropods and had a particular interest in the long-extinct marine arthropods, trilobites - one of the earliest groups of arthropods in existence. Richard was also a well-known natural history television presenter and popular science author. Arthropods are invertebrates with an external skeleton, a segmented body and jointed appendages. Diverse and widespread, trilobites were amongst the most successful of all early animals, roaming the oceans for over 270 million years before suffering a mass extinction. Due to their ancient demise, Richard learnt about trilobites from their fossilised remnants and his research significantly furthered our understanding of invertebrate evolution. A talented science communicator, Richard appeared in many natural history television programmes for the BBC. In 2010, he travelled with David Attenborough to the Atlas Mountains to find trilobite fossils for BBC Two's First Life. In 1993, Richard's book The Hidden Landscape: Journey into the Geological Past was named the Natural World Book of the Year. Committees: Biological Sciences Awards Committee 2007-2009 Summer Science Exhibition Committee 2003-2005 Sectional Committee 5: Earth & environmental sciences 1998-2001 Council: 2001-2003 Medals and prizes: Michael Faraday Award 2006 Fellow 15/05/1997 51 References: Graham E Budd, 'In love with Olenus', review of R A Fortey Trilobite! Eyewitness to evolution in NR 2002 vol 56 pp 117-118 Anne Purkiss 'Scientists 1985 - 2010; Portraits of Fellows of the Royal Society' 2010, p.20 The Royal Society Fellows Directory, Professor Richard Fortey OBE FRS, [URL: https://royalsociety.org/people/richard-fortey-11450/; last accessed: 30/04/2025] University of Cambridge, Department of Earth Sciences, Alumni News, Professor Richard Fortey, OBE FRS, 18 March 2025, [URL: https://www.esc.cam.ac.uk/alumni/alumni-news; last accessed: 30/04/2025] Encyclopedia.com, Arts, Educational Magazines, (Richard A. Fortey, Richard Alan Fortey), [URL: https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/fortey-richard-1946; last accessed: 30/04/2025] The Guardian, Richard Fortey obituary, Stephen Moss, 13 March 2025, [URL: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/13/richard-fortey-obituary; last accessed: 30/04/2025] International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Fortey%2C+Richard+A RCN R83644 RCN 54976 RCN 46802 RCN R72574 RCN R79683 RCN 10774 RCN 53446 RCN R72570 RCN 52133 RCN R81827 RCN R61011 RCN R72568 RCN R71232 RCN R71170 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH3027 15 Feb 1946 - The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 30/04/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA4178 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 09/09/2025 RS_NET\VidaM Yes 1c003f08-754e-46da-98cc-de62c4ee0ff2