The Epic of Palaeobotany-442

献身于科学的苏格兰富二代Robert Kidston(FRS, 1852--1924)

19世纪后期至20世纪早期，苏格兰有一位非常著名的古植物学家Robert Kidston (FRS, 1852--1924)。Robert Kidston出生于富裕家庭，是一个“富二代”。Robert Kidston的正规教育并不多。这位衣食无忧的有钱公子哥对古植物学产生了兴趣，势不可挡。

Robert Kidston是一位非常卓越的古植物学家，一生完成了180多篇研究论文，主要聚焦于泥盆纪和石炭纪植物的研究。他和William Henry Lang (FRS, 1874--1960)合作，开创性地研究了Rhynie Chert的植物化石。

1902年，Robert Kidston当选为英国皇家学会院士。

1984年，Dianne Edwards (FRS,1942--)撰文称赞Robert Kidston为“最专业的古植物学家”。

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A sketchy life chronology of Robert Kidston (FRS, 1852--1924)

--1852:Born into a wealthy family of Bishopton House, Renfrewshire，Scotland on 29 June 1852;

Bishopton House, Renfrewshire，Scotland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishopton,_Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire, Scotland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renfrewshire

--Moved to Stirling when Robert Kidston was an infant;

Stirling,Scotland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling

--Attended Stirling High School;

--Left Stirling High School and began a career as a Clerk in the Glasgow Savings Bank;

-- Attended lectures in Glasgow;  

--Participated in field trips to collect Carboniferous lycopods;

--1878: The Glasgow Savings Bank closed in 1878, and Robert Kidston lost his job;

--1878: Became Joint Secretary of the Stirling Horticultural & Natural History Society at the inaugural meeting;

--1878: Became Fellow of the Geological Society of London (FGS) and Fellow of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh (FRPSE);

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