John Ray, Naturalist His Life and Works [Paperback]

This superb biography reviews the pivotal contributions of a brilliant but undervalued naturalist who profoundly influenced the development of science.John Ray was a seventeenth-century naturalist with the deepest respect for intellectual integrity, honest exploration of nature, and the role of theology and scientific endeavour. This superb 1942 biography reassesses the pivotal contributions of this brilliant but undervalued scientist and examines Rays profound influence on the development of science.John Ray was a seventeenth-century naturalist with the deepest respect for intellectual integrity, honest exploration of nature, and the role of theology and scientific endeavour. This superb 1942 biography reassesses the pivotal contributions of this brilliant but undervalued scientist and examines Rays profound influence on the development of science.This biography of John Ray, the seventeenth-century naturalist, was first published in 1942 at the height of the Second World War. It was written by Charles Raven, an eminent theologian who shared Ray's deep respect for intellectual integrity, honest exploration of the natural world, and the value of both theology and scientific endeavour. More than a superb history, this offers an opportunity to reassess the pivotal contributions of a brilliant but often undervalued scientist. Ray's major publications were written in Latin; Raven's linguistic skills  coupled with his passion for natural history  made him ideally suited to interpret Ray's scientific legacy. Raven reviews Ray's academic and scientific careers in the context of the dramatic social upheavals of his time. He evaluates the remarkable long-term and widespread influence of Ray's work on the development of science, alongside the significance of his final book, The Wisdom of God.Preface; Introduction; 1. Boyhood and youth; 2. At Cambridge University; 3. First studies in science; 4. The Cambridge Catalogue; 5. The years of travel; 6. The English Catalogue; 7. Tl3a