Talk:Gideon Mantell

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I am creating a display for a small dinosaur museum. I was going to credit him as the first paleontologist. Would this be a path to take on my exhibit?

OH Yes. William Buckland (and many before) had picked up collections of gigantic bones, but Gideon was the first to understand and name the 'age of reptiles' (1820's). He was also the first to find the first herbivorous dinosaur (Buckland found the first carnivorous dinosaur although he had no idea what is was at the time).

Mantell is one of those incredible unsung heroes of the Victorian age. It was only the intervention of such eminaries as Sir Charles Lyell that helped Gideon gain a little of the respect that he should have had for his incredible insight and investigation into the animal kingdom.

If you fancy investigating a great story, look into the fight between Mantell and Sir Richard Owen. There is a lot of literature available. Dennis Dean's book on Mantell is the best. Austin Graham Bagnall of National Library Centre, Wellington, New Zealand is a good contact on Walter Mantell, Gideon's son (New Zealand is also where Gideon's original diaries currently reside, although they were published by the Curwen Press in the 1940's).

Quentin Pain Accountz.com Ltd United Kingdoms


hello ppl i have to write a paper on this Gideon Mantell guy and none of this info has helped me sofar...it is due tomorrow and i haven't got any thing yet..this is not good