John Lubbock (2)
Sir John Lubbock, Bart. (1834–1913), FRS, banker, politician, and scientific writer.
1834 April 30th. Born at 29 Eaton Place, London, the eldest of eleven children of Sir John William Lubbock, third baronet and his wife, Harriet Hotham (d. 1873).
1842 After a family move to Downe, Kent, he was informally tutored by Charles Darwin in natural history.
1845 Eton College
1849 Joined the family bank, Lubbock, Foster & Co, as a clerk.
From the 1850s onwards he divided his time evenly between banking, politics, and scientific and popular writing.
1865 Took over as head of the family bank.
Member of the Royal Institution, the Geological Society, the Royal Society (FRS 1858), and the X Club.
1865 Published "Pre-Historic Times as Illustrated by Ancient Remains", distinguishing between palaeolithic and neolithic man.
1870 Published "The Origin of Civilisation" and the "Primitive Condition of Man"
Most of his published research concerned the social behaviour of insects.
1870 Elected MP for Maidstone
1872 Vice-chancellor of London University
1873 pushed through a bill to preserve ancient monuments
After 1880 he was mostly concerned with banking and political duties.
1880 MP for the London University
1900 Elevated to the peerage; he chose the title Avebury
1913 He died from anaemia on 28 May, at Kingsgate Castle
1914 The bank merged with Coutts & Co.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of John Lubbock, ODNB