ABSTRACT
I was born in East Lothian in 1861, with hereditary inclinations to the study of Natural History, also with strong theological traditions. From the village school I passed to Edinburgh University, where I followed the then fixed M.A. course with many science classes in addition, I owe more than I can say to the teaching of Patrick Geddes, especially to his insistence on the relations of biology to other disciplines. After some theological study, mingled with more science, I went to work under Haeckel at Jena, by whom I was greatly influenced, though afterwards rather in the direction of reaction. Later on I studied zoology under Schulze in Berlin, and was incidentally much impressed by Pileiderer's lectures on the Philosophy of Religion. With much reading of Spencer and other evolutionists, I combined experience at various marine biological stations, always taking a keen interest in open-air "natural history." In 1887 I started teaching zoology in the extra-mural School of Medicine in Edinburgh, where I remained till I was appointed in 1899 to the Chair of Natural History in the University of Aberdeen. I have also held various Lectureships: Thomson Lecturer, United Free Church College, Aberdeen; Bross Lecturer, Lake Forest University; Gilford Lecturer, St. Andrews; Morse Lecturer, Union Theological Seminary, New York; Terry Lecturer at Yale.
