Henry Woodward died on September 6th, 1921, at his house at Bushey, Herts, in his 89th year.
He was the fifth son of Samuel Woodward, an antiquary and geologist, and was born at Norwich on November 24th, 1832. His early education was obtained at the Norwich Grammar School, but at the early age of 14 he went to live with his brother, Dr. S.P. Woodward, who had been appointed Professor of Natural History at Cirencester Royal Agricultural College, and while there studied geology and natural history. Dr. S.P. Woodward removed to London three years later to take up an appointment at the British Museum, and his younger brother accompanied him, to continue his studies.
For a time Henry helped to support himself by means of botanical and entomological cataloguing, but this work being insufficiently paid, in 1851 he returned to Norwich as a bank-clerk and spent seven strenuous years in that capacity, while devoting his leisure to local fossils and natural history. The outcome of this study was that Professor Owen appointed him in 1858 to a junior position in the geological department of the British Museum. This was his proper sphere and his position gradually improved until after 22 years’ service he succeeded G.R. Waterhouse as Keeper of Geology. Shortly after this appointment, which was made in 1880, the natural history collections were removed from their old and cramped quarters in Bloomsbury to the more suitable building in South Kensington, and on Woodward and his stall fell the onerous work of removing the geological collection and rearranging it in the new galleries provided. Incidentally it was under his direction that the series of diagrams and descriptive labels, and the illustrated guide books to the collection, were produced.
Woodward also superintended the preparation and publication of no fewer than 28 volumes of the technical catalogue of fossils. He retired from the Keepership of Geology in 1901, well beyond the usual age-limit, but he was still, by sanction of the Treasury, employed for a further three years on special duties. His final retirement in 1904 concluded 46 years of service to the Museum, during which period he had found time to contribute very largely to technical publications. From 1864 onward he had been editor of the Geological Magazine, a connection he held until within a year of his death. In 1873 he became a fellow of the Royal Society, and among other honours that were awarded him was the conferment of Hon. LL.D. of St. Andrews. He was Murchison Medallist and President of the Geological Society and held at different times the Presidency of many other scientific societies in connection with his special line of study.
Dr. Woodward was elected an Honorary Member of the Institution in 1895.
Vol. 31, Trans IMM 1921-22, pp.587-8
