Essex science hero John Ray founded the scientific study of the natural world in the 1600s. In a talk which combines history and nature, discover Ray’s story and his amazing list of ‘firsts’ in the field of natural history, from creating the first scientific definition of a species to studying the full life cycle of the butterfly. Find out how he influenced later natural historians such as Darwin, and why his story is so remarkable as he was the poor son of a village blacksmith.
Views: 651 | Enquiries: 3The John Ray Trust is an Essex charity which supports the advancement of natural science education and promotes increased knowledge and awareness of the remarkable work of the ‘father of natural history’ John Ray.
John Ray, 1627-1705, was probably the most distinguished British natural scientist to date, but his genius remains largely unknown to the general public.
Ray produced the first scientific definition of a species, and the modern system of scientific classification is based on his method of grouping species which was further developed in the 1700s by the Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus. Charles Darwin, the 19th century naturalist who wrote The Origin of Species putting forward the theory of evolution, was also influenced by Ray’s work,
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