Portrait of outstanding natural historian unveiled

Portrait of outstanding natural historian unveiled

The University of Aberdeen will this Friday (March 19, 2pm) unveil a portrait of the founder of the University's Zoology Museum. The portrait of Regius Professor of Natural History, William MacGillivray (1796-1852) has been gifted to the University by his great-grandson, Paul Truman from Sydney.

MacGillivray was one of the most outstanding natural historians of the 19thC and renowned as a wildlife artist. Whilst researching a book on MacGillivray, Dr Robert Ralph of the University of Aberdeen, discovered a portrait of MacGillivray in Australia. The portrait is believed to have been painted by William MacGillivray's daughter Anne.

Martyn Gorman, Curator of the Zoology Museum, said: "It is fitting that MacGillivray's portrait will be displayed in the museum that he founded and which is still so enjoyed and valued by our undergraduates and the public alike."

The portrait will be officially unveiled in the Zoology Museum at 2pm on Friday Mach 19 by Professor Stephen Logan, Provost and Head of the College of Life Sciences and Medicine.