Maurice Burton
Encyclopedia
Maurice Burton 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
.
on 28 March 1898, married Margaret Maclean (d 1990) in 1929 (2 sons and a daughter) and died in Albury, Surrey
on 9 September 1992. He was Curator of Sponges at the British Museum of Natural History from 1927 to 1948, and Deputy Keeper of Zoology in the same institution from 1949 to 1958. 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. In 1961 he published a book "The Elusive Monster" reviewing the evidence for the Loch Ness Monster in the light of his professional knowledge and concluding that it was unlikely that such creatures were living in Loch Ness
. He also commented further on this topic in the New Scientist
. 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 (1946-) 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. His daughter Jane Burton (1933-2007) illustrated many of the books and pursued a career as a wildlife photographer.
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
encyclopedias and books including a skeptical treatment of the Loch Ness Monster
Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next....
.
Life
Burton was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 28 March 1898, married Margaret Maclean (d 1990) in 1929 (2 sons and a daughter) and died in Albury, Surrey
Albury, Surrey
Albury is a village and civil parish in the borough of Guildford in Surrey, England, about south-east of Guildford town centre. The village is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Site of Special Scientific Interest....
on 9 September 1992. He was Curator of Sponges at the British Museum of Natural History from 1927 to 1948, and Deputy Keeper of Zoology in the same institution from 1949 to 1958. His popular science writing included major work on Encyclopedias, and acting as Science Editor for the Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper; the first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842. It was published weekly until 1971 and then increasingly less frequently until publication ceased in 2003.-History:...
and Nature Correspondent for the Daily Telegraph. In 1961 he published a book "The Elusive Monster" reviewing the evidence for the Loch Ness Monster in the light of his professional knowledge and concluding that it was unlikely that such creatures were living in Loch Ness
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending for approximately southwest of Inverness. Its surface is above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie"...
. He also commented further on this topic in the New Scientist
New Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
. 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 (1946-) 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. His daughter Jane Burton (1933-2007) illustrated many of the books and pursued a career as a wildlife photographer.
Publications
- Dendy, A., & Burton, M. (1938) Outlines of Evolutionary Biology (Constable)
- Burton, M. (1953) Animal Courtship (Hutchinson)
- Burton, M. (1956) Infancy in Animals (Hutchinson)
- Burton, M. (1957) Animal Legends (Coward-McCann)
- Burton, M. (1959) Curiosities of Animal Life (Ward Lock)
- Burton, M. (1959) The Phoenix Reborn (Hutchinson)
- Burton, M. (1961) The Elusive Monster - An analysis of the evidence from Loch Ness (Hart-Davies)
- Burton, M. (1962) Systematic dictionary of mammals of the world (Museum Press)
- Burton, M. (1965) Young Animals (Hamlyn)
- Burton, M. (1968) Animals, Vol 3 of the Frank Watts Reference Library (Frank Watts)
- Burton, M. (1968) University Dictionary of Mammals of the World (Crowell)
- Burton, M. (1969) Animal World in Colour (12 volumes) (Children's Press)
- Burton, M. (1971) Animal Oddities: The Strangest Living Creatures (Odhams) ISBN 0600787044
- Burton, M. (1972) Encyclopedia of Animals in Colour (Octopus) ISBN 0706401697
- Burton, M. (1973) The Sea's Inhabitants (Eric Thomas)
- Burton, M. (1973) The Sixth Sense of Animals (Taplinger) ISBN 0800872320
- Burton, M. (1974) All-Colour Book of Baby Animals (Octopus)
- Burton, M. (1974) Prehistoric Animals (F. Muller) ISBN 0584620462
- Burton, M., & Burton, R. (1974) The Life of Reptiles and Amphibians (Octopus) ISBN 0356045048
- Burton, M., & Burton, R. (1975) Encyclopedia of Insects and Arachnids (Octopus) ISBN 0706404327
- Burton, M., Van Assen, R., & Barnard, C. J. (1976) Guide to the Mammals of Britain and Europe (Elsevier)
- Burton, M., & Burton, R. (1976) Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom (Octopus) ISBN 0706404564
- Burton, M., & Burton, R. (1979) The Animal World: an encyclopaedia of animal behaviour (Macmillan)
- Burton, M. (1979) A Zoo at Home (J.M. Dent) ISBN 0460043838
- Burton, M., & Burton, R. (1980) The New Funk & Wagnall's Illustrated Wildlife Encyclopedia (Funk & Wagnall)
- Burton, M., & Burton, R. (1980) The New International Wildlife Encyclopedia (Purnell)
- Burton, M. (1990) The Life of Fishes (Simon & Schuster) ISBN 075000052X
- Burton, M., & Burton, Robert (1994) The Marshall Cavendish International Wildlife Encyclopedia