Person Falconer; Hugh (1808 - 1865); palaeontologist and naturalist Falconer Hugh palaeontologist and naturalist 1808 - 1865 British Male Forres, Moray, Morayshire, Scotland, United Kingdom 29 February 1808 18080229 London, England, United Kingdom 31 January 1865 18650131 Burial: Kensal Green Cemetery, London

India (1845)

Palaeontologist and naturalist Surgery Geology Palaeontology Botany Education: Local grammar school; University of Aberdeen MA; Edinburgh University MD 1829 Career: Travelled to India as surgeon with the East India Company, Bengal establishment, Calcutta, obtaining a position in the museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (1830); Superintendent, Botanic Garden, Saharunpur, India (1832); published a geological description of the Siwálik Hills (1834); requested by the Commission of Bengal to investigate commercial feasibility of growing tea in India and on based on his findings and recommendations tea plants were introduced, with the resultant black tea becoming competitive with Chinese tea (1834); returned from India owing to ill health bringing with him a large collection of botanical and geological specimens (1842); travelled Europe for the prupose of making geological observations; continued in service of the British East India Company as a naturalis and pursued research at the British Museum and East India House and prepared casts for fossils to be displayed in the leading museums of Europe; superintendent of the Calcutta Botanical Garden and professor of botany in the Medical College, Calcutta (1847); served as advisor to the Indian government and the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of Bengal; left India again owing to ill health (1855); upon his return to Europe he made comparative studies between fossils he found in England, Europe, and India, particularly species of mastodon, elephant, and rhinoceros. Memberships: FLS; FGS Awards/Medals: Wollaston Medal 1837 Parents: David Falconer and Isabel Mcrae. Siblings: Four brothers and two sisters. Studied the flora, fauna, and geology of India, Assam, Burma, and Mediterranean islands. First to suggest the modern evolutionary theory of punctuated equilibrium. Studied the Siwalik fossil beds, and may also have been the first person to discover a fossil ape. His botanical notes, coloured drawings, and specimens were deposited in the library at Kew Gardens. He was commemorated in the now obsolete plant genus Falconeria J. D. Hooker (Scrophulariaceae), and in Rhododendron falconeri (Ericaceae). Royal Society roles: VP 1863-1864 Fellow 13/02/1845 37 George Peacock Richard Horsman Solly Robert Batty Charles Giles Bridle Daubeny Samuel Peace Pratt James Joseph Sylvester John Lee John Edward Gray David Thomas Ansted Richard Partridge Thomas Best Jervis John Gould William Bowman Roderick Impey Murchison John Barlow Edward Solly Leonard Horner Charles Lyell Richard Owen Richard Jenkins William HenrySykes Thomas Bell Robert Edmond Grant John Lindley William Jackson Hooker John Forbes Royle Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB Obituaries: Proc Roy Soc 1866-1867 vol 15 pp xiv-xx References: Joyce Brown, 'A Memoir of Colonel Sir Proby Cautley, FRS, 1802-1871, Engineer and Palaeontologist' in NR 1979-80 vol 34 pp 185-225 R W Home, 'The Royal Society and the Empire: the colonial and Commonwealth Fellowship. Part 1. 1731-1847' in NR 2002 vol 56 pp 307-332 ©The Royal Society 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 RCN 31583 RCN 38792 RCN 39140 RCN 38793 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH2812 29 Feb 1808 - 31 Jan 1865 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 07/05/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7096 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 02/04/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/56760550 d37abe69-3b67-4149-827a-32892cc8b45e