Maurice Burton (28 March 1898 – 9 September 1992) was a British zoologist and popular science author, who produced many natural history encyclopedias and books including a skeptical treatment of the Loch Ness Monster.
Burton became a schoolteacher. He later joined the staff of the Natural History Museum, London in 1926 where he remained for the rest of his career until his retirement in 1958. He was Curator of Sponges at the museum from 1927 to 1948, then its Deputy Keeper of Zoology from 1949 to 1958.[2]
His popular science writing included major work on encyclopedias and acting as Science Editor for the Illustrated London News and Nature Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph.[2] In 1961, he published the book The Elusive Monster which reviews the evidence for the Loch Ness Monster in the light of his professional knowledge. He concluded that it was unlikely that such creatures were living in Loch Ness.[3] He commented further on this topic in the New Scientist.[4][5][6] Many of Burton's books were aimed at a juvenile audience. Some of his later books or revised editions were published with his son, Robert Burton (born 1941) also trained as a zoologist and who published many natural history books himself. Robert also took over his father's Nature Notes column in the Daily Telegraph.[7] His daughter Jane Burton illustrated many of the books.
Personal life and demise
Burton married Margaret Maclean in 1929. They had two sons and a daughter.[8]
He died in Albury, Surrey, on 9 September 1992.[2][9] Sound recordings of Burton are available at The Albury History Society.[10]
Publications
1938 (with A. Dendy): Outlines of Evolutionary Biology (Constable)
1952: Curiosities of Animal Life (Ward Lock)
1953: Animal Courtship (Hutchinson)
1955 When Dumb Animals Talk (Hutchinson)
1956: Infancy in Animals (Hutchinson)
1957: Animal Legends (Coward-McCann)
1959: The Phoenix Reborn (Hutchinson)
1960: Under the Sea (Franklin Watts)
1961: The Elusive Monster: An analysis of the evidence from Loch Ness (Hart-Davies)
1962: Systematic Dictionary of Mammals of the World (Museum Press)
1965: Young Animals (Hamlyn)
1968: Animals, Vol. 3 of the Frank Watts Reference Library (Frank Watts)
1968: University Dictionary of Mammals of the World (Crowell)
1968: Wild Animals of the British Isles (F. Warne)
1969: Animal World in Colour (12 volumes) (Children's Press)
1971: Animal Oddities: The Strangest Living Creatures (Odhams), ISBN0-600-78704-4
1972: Encyclopedia of Animals in Colour (Octopus), ISBN0-7064-0169-7
^"Obituary: Maurice Burton". The Independent. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
^"Burton, Maurice". nhm.ac.uk. Natural History Museum.
^"All about Albury". alburyhistory.org.uk. Albury History Society. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
January 21, 2023
maurice, burton, english, cyclist, cyclist, march, 1898, september, 1992, british, zoologist, popular, science, author, produced, many, natural, history, encyclopedias, books, including, skeptical, treatment, loch, ness, monster, contents, early, life, educati. For the English cyclist see Maurice Burton cyclist Maurice Burton 28 March 1898 9 September 1992 was a British zoologist and popular science author who produced many natural history encyclopedias and books including a skeptical treatment of the Loch Ness Monster Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life and demise 4 Publications 5 ReferencesEarly life and education EditBurton was born in Hornsey London England on 28 March 1898 He attended Holloway School 1 Burton studied zoology at King s College London under Arthur Dendy Career EditBurton became a schoolteacher He later joined the staff of the Natural History Museum London in 1926 where he remained for the rest of his career until his retirement in 1958 He was Curator of Sponges at the museum from 1927 to 1948 then its Deputy Keeper of Zoology from 1949 to 1958 2 His popular science writing included major work on encyclopedias and acting as Science Editor for the Illustrated London News and Nature Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph 2 In 1961 he published the book The Elusive Monster which reviews the evidence for the Loch Ness Monster in the light of his professional knowledge He concluded that it was unlikely that such creatures were living in Loch Ness 3 He commented further on this topic in the New Scientist 4 5 6 Many of Burton s books were aimed at a juvenile audience Some of his later books or revised editions were published with his son Robert Burton born 1941 also trained as a zoologist and who published many natural history books himself Robert also took over his father s Nature Notes column in the Daily Telegraph 7 His daughter Jane Burton illustrated many of the books Personal life and demise EditBurton married Margaret Maclean in 1929 They had two sons and a daughter 8 He died in Albury Surrey on 9 September 1992 2 9 Sound recordings of Burton are available at The Albury History Society 10 Publications Edit1938 with A Dendy Outlines of Evolutionary Biology Constable 1952 Curiosities of Animal Life Ward Lock 1953 Animal Courtship Hutchinson 1955 When Dumb Animals Talk Hutchinson 1956 Infancy in Animals Hutchinson 1957 Animal Legends Coward McCann 1959 The Phoenix Reborn Hutchinson 1960 Under the Sea Franklin Watts 1961 The Elusive Monster An analysis of the evidence from Loch Ness Hart Davies 1962 Systematic Dictionary of Mammals of the World Museum Press 1965 Young Animals Hamlyn 1968 Animals Vol 3 of the Frank Watts Reference Library Frank Watts 1968 University Dictionary of Mammals of the World Crowell 1968 Wild Animals of the British Isles F Warne 1969 Animal World in Colour 12 volumes Children s Press 1971 Animal Oddities The Strangest Living Creatures Odhams ISBN 0 600 78704 4 1972 Encyclopedia of Animals in Colour Octopus ISBN 0 7064 0169 7 1973 The Sea s Inhabitants Eric Thomas 1973 The Sixth Sense of Animals Taplinger ISBN 0 8008 7232 0 1974 All Colour Book of Baby Animals Octopus 1974 Prehistoric Animals F Muller ISBN 0 584 62046 2 1974 with R Burton The Life of Reptiles and Amphibians Octopus ISBN 0 356 04504 8 1975 with R Burton Encyclopedia of Insects and Arachnids Octopus ISBN 0 7064 0432 7 1976 with R Van Assen amp C J Barnard Guide to the Mammals of Britain and Europe Elsevier 1976 with R Burton Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom Octopus ISBN 0 7064 0456 4 1979 with R Burton The Animal World an encyclopaedia of animal behaviour Macmillan 1979 A Zoo at Home J M Dent ISBN 0 460 04383 8 1980 with R Burton The New Funk amp Wagnall s Illustrated Wildlife Encyclopedia Funk amp Wagnall 1980 with R Burton The New International Wildlife Encyclopedia Purnell 1990 The Life of Fishes Simon amp Schuster ISBN 0 7500 0052 X 1994 with Robert Burton The Marshall Cavendish International Wildlife EncyclopediaReferences Edit The Old Camdenians Club oldcamdenians info Retrieved 31 January 2015 a b c Obituary Maurice Burton The Independent 23 September 1992 Burton M 1961 The Elusive Monster An analysis of the evidence from Loch Ness Hart Davies Burton Maurice 24 June 1982 The Loch Ness Saga New Scientist 872 Burton Maurice 1 July 1982 The Loch Ness Saga New Scientist 41 42 Burton Maurice 8 July 1982 The Loch Ness Saga New Scientist 112 113 Robert Burton dk com Obituary Maurice Burton The Independent 22 October 2011 Retrieved 5 February 2021 Burton Maurice nhm ac uk Natural History Museum All about Albury alburyhistory org uk Albury History Society Retrieved 19 August 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maurice Burton amp oldid 1062663805, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
