Sir Charles Wyville Thomson

Sir Charles Wyville Thomson 1830-82, Scottish naturalist, noted as a marine biologist and deep-sea explorer. He participated in three deep-sea dredging expeditions (1868-70) and obtained evidence that animal life abounded in depths previously believed to be azoic; he recorded the results of his studies in The Depths of the Sea (1873), a classic in oceanography. He was director of the scientific work of the Challenger expedition (1872-76) and on his return was knighted and appointed director of a commission to distribute and study the collections of the expedition and to publish its results. He wrote an account of the cruise, The Voyage of the Challenger (1877).

Thomson, SirCharlesWyville (1830–82)An Irish biologist and oceanographer, who was appointed professor of natural history at Edinburgh University in 1870. He was especially interested in life in the deep oceans and proposed and then led the five-year Challenger expedition (1827–6), in the course of which 4717 new marine species were discovered. Following the expedition, Thomson began the arrangement of the collections and publication of the results. His studies of temperature differences led him to postulate the circulation of ocean waters.