William Buckland, pioneer in the study of geology and palaeontology (From The Oxford Times)

The dinosaur man

10:25am Friday 12th December 2008 in Leisure By Nicola Lisle

Eccentric cleric William Buckland may not be well known outside geological circles, but in his day he was a pioneer in the study of geology and palaeontology.

He was the University of Oxford’s first Reader in Geology, and the first man to give a detailed account of what is now known as a dinosaur, based on the study of bones found near Stonesfield. He also possessed an infectious energy and passion for his work, and was one of the University’s most popular lecturers.

His interest in all things geological started in early childhood. He was born in Axminster, Devon, on March 12, 1874, to Charles Buckland, Rector of Templeton and Trusham, and his first wife, Elizabeth Oke. Both father and son enjoyed exploring the local woods and quarries, where they found vast quantities of ammonites and other fossil shells from the Jurassic period.

For the young William, it was the start of a collection that he added to avidly throughout his life. He was an inveterate hoarder, and an abundance of rocks and other specimens found their way into his various homes.

The Scottish geologist Roderick Murchison, visiting Buckland at Corpus Christi in 1824, commented: “I can never forget the scene which awaited me. I entered a long, corridor-like room . . . filled with rocks, shells and bones in dire confusion.”

Buckland’s association with Oxford began in 1801, when he won a scholarship to study for the ministry at Corpus Christi. Although a conscientious student, he spent much of his spare time indulging his ever-growing passion for geology, attending lectures by John Kidd on mineralogy and chemistry, as well as spending vacations researching the geological succession of strata in England.

He obtained his BA in 1804 and his MA in 1808; the following year he was ordained as a priest and made a Fellow of Corpus Christi. He spent the next three years exploring the geology of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, setting off on frequent excursions astride his “favourite old black mare” — who, according to his memoir (edited by his son Frank and published by Routledge in 1858) — would “patiently submit to be loaded with interesting but weighty specimens”.

In 1813, Buckland took over from John Kidd as Reader in Mineralogy. He was a lively and entertaining lecturer, who illustrated his talks with specimens, maps and diagrams, and on one occasion even demonstrated what he believed to be the gait of giant prehistoric birds. He could also be intimidating, as the renowned physician Henry Acland once recalled.

Attending one of Buckland’s lectures as a student, Acland described how Buckland, holding a hyaena skull in his hand, “suddenly dashed down the steps — rushed, skull in