Lankester was born in May 1847 and was educated at Downing College Cambridge (1864-1866) and Christ Church Oxford (1866-1868). From 1874 to 1890 he was Jodrell Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at University College London. In 1891 he was appointed Linacre Professor of Comparative Anatomy at Oxford. In 1898 he became Director of the Natural History Departments of the British Museum, a post he held till 1907. Lankester was the founder (1884) of the Marine Biological Association. He was a member of many scientific societies. He published many books and articles on science and zoology. He was knighted in 1907. He died in August 1929.
From the guide to the Lankester Manuscript, 1922, (University College London)
