Theodore Thomson Flynn MBE PhD (1883 - 1968)

Born 11 Oct 1883 in Coraki, New South Wales (Australia)

Husband of Lily Mary (Young) Flynn — married 23 Jan 1909 in St John's Church of England, Balmain North, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 23 Oct 1968 at age 85 in Liss, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Theodore Flynn MBE PhD is Notable.

Theodore Thomson Flynn MBE PhD born on 11th October 1883 at Coraki, New South Wales (Australia). He was the son of John Thompson Flynn and his wife Jessie Thomson. ^[1] He was educated at Fort Street High School, Sydney, the Sydney Training College for Teachers, and the University of Sydney, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1907 and gained the university medal and the Johns Coutts scholarship in biology. ^[2]

On 23 January 1909, Theodore married Lily Mary Young in St John's Church of England (Anglican Church), Balmain North, Sydney, New South Wales. ^[3]

Flynn was appointed to the Newcastle and West Maitland Technical colleges, lecturing in chemistry and physics. His main interest remained in the natural sciences and in 1909 he became lecturer in biology at the University of Tasmania. ^[2] In 1911 he accept the first chair of biology in Hobart as the Ralston professor. He earned his Doctor of Science degree (PhD) at the University of Sydney in 1921 for work on marsupial embryology. In September 1930 he left Hobart for London to continue his research on marsupial embryology, taking up the chair of zoology at Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. ^[4]

Flynn was a fellow of the Linnean and Zoological societies in London, a fellow of the International Institute of Embryology in Utrecht, and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. After his retirement in 1948 as emeritus professor, he resided in Surrey, England. ^[5]

He was the subject of major news in 1946 when it was announced that he was accompanying his son, the famous actor Errol Flynn, on a 90-day cruise of Mexican waters (possibly, it was that Errol was such news at that time). ^[6] Theodore named one new plant species that he discovered – Gibbonsia erroli – after Errol. ^[2]

Flynn passed away, aged 84 years, in the Hillbrow Nursing Home, Liss, Hampshire, England on 23 October 1968. ^[7] The Canberra Times carried the following notice: "LONDON, Friday (AAP). Dr Theodore Thompson Flynn, father of the late Australian actor Errol Flynn, died at the Hillbrow Nursing Home, Liss, Hampshire, on Wednesday, aged 85. Dr Flynn was Professor of Zoology at Queen's University, Belfast, for 17 years. He retired in 1948." ^[8]

Research Notes

Parents of Theodore FLYNN, FLYNN John and Jessie.

• John FLYNN died between 1893 and 1938, as evidenced by last child, and lack of mention in Grandchild's funeral notice. lists John's middle name as Thompson.
• Marriage, NSW BDM 6451/1882, FLYNN John to THOMSON Jessie, at Lismore.
• Births to John and Jessie in NSW; Theodore T, Claude C, Adeline M, Ivy M, Unnamed Female.
• Death, NSW BDM, 28385/1949, FLYNN Jessie, (F) (THOMSON), (M) Elizabeth, at Waverly.
• Trove, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Tue 13 Dec 1949, Page 14, Family Notices

DEATHS, FLYNN, Jessie. -- December 12, 1949, at her residence, Brighton Boulevarde, Bondi, relict of the late John Flynn, beloved mother of Theodore, Claude, Ivy, Adeline (deceased), and Stella, loving grandmother of Errol, Rosemary, Mavis, Alva, Lloyd, Peggy, June, Don (deceased), Daphne (deceased), and Audrey, and loved great-grandmother of Graham, Glenys, Errol, Rosemary, Peter, Robyn, Brook, and Marelle, aged 84 years.

• Trove, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Tue 13 Dec 1949, Page 14, Family Notices

FUNERALS, FLYNN, -- The Relatives and Friends of the late Mrs. Jessie Flynn, of Brighton Boulevarde, Bondi, are kindly invited to attend her Funeral; to leave Our Private Chapels, 302 Oxford Street, Woollahra, This (Tuesday) Morning, at 10:15, for Presbyterian Cemetery, Rookwood. WALTER CARTER. Waverley. FW3009.

• Trove, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Thu 15 Dec 1949, Page 22, Family Notices

DEATHS, FLYNN, Jessie. -- December 12, 1949, at her residence, 28 Brighton Boulevarde, Bondi, relict of the late John Flynn, beloved mother of Professor Flynn, M.B.E., Jamaica, late Belfast, Claude, Ivy (Mrs. Russell), Stella (Mrs. Worstead), and grandmother of Errol, of Hollywood, California.

•  ??Birth??, Vic BDM, 16861 in 1864, THOMSON Jessie, (F)Hugh, (M)Elizabeth (Logie), at Melb.

Siblings of Theodore Thomson FLYNN.

• Birth, NSW BDM 21320/1886, FLYNN Claude C, (F)John, (M)Jessie, at Grafton.
• Marriage, NSW BDM 15273/1915, FLYNN Claude C to RINGLAND Bertha E, at Marrickville.
• Trove, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Sat 23 Jun 1917, Page 12, Family Notices

ROLL OF HONOUR, RINGLAND. -- Killed in action, in France, May 4, 1917, Private Harold Edgar Ringland, stretcher-bearer, aged 20 years 9 months. Inserted by his sorrowing sister and brother-in-law, Bertha and Claude Flynn.

• Death, NSW BDM 19435/1966, FLYNN Claude Clarence, (F)John, (M)Jessie, at Sutherland.

• Birth, NSW BDM 21188/1888, FLYNN Adeline M, (F)John, (M)Jessie, at Moruya.
• Death, NSW BDM 9087/1890, FLYNN Adeline M, (F)John, (M)Jessie, at Newtown.

• Birth, NSW BDM 25291/1891, FLYNN Ivy M, (F)John, (M)Jessie, at Newtown.
• Marriage, NSW BDM 15134/1912, RUSSELL Harold to FLYNN Ivy M, at Newtown.
• Trove, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Sat 13 Dec 1913, Page 22, Family Notices

BIRTHS, RUSSELL (nee M.M.Flynn). -- December 3, at Terrival, 261 Addison-road, Marrickville, the wife of Harold Russell -- a daughter (Mavis Evelyn).

• Death, NSW BDM 5870/1966, RUSSELL Ivy May, (F)John, (M)Jessie, at Sydney.

• Birth, NSW BDM 23934/1894, FLYNN Unnamed Female, (F)John, (M)Jessie, at Newtown.
• Marriage, NSW BDM 10557/1916, WORSTEAD Frederick O N to FLYNN Estelle C, at Marrickville.
• Trove, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Sat 4 Jun 1938, Page 9, Family Notices

FUNERALS, WORSTEAD. -- The Relatives and Friends of Mr. and Mrs. OSCAR WORSTEAD and FAMILY, of 42 Moonbi Street, Summer Hill, and Mr. and Mrs. F. WORSTEAD, of Randwick, are invited to attend the Funeral of their dearly beloved SON, BROTHER, and GRANDSON, Donald Arthur Worstead; to leave T. J. Andrews' Funeral Chapel, 214 Liverpool Road, Ashfield. THIS DAY, after service commencing at 1:30 p.m., for the Presbyterian Cemetery, Rookwood.

WORSTEAD. -- The Relatives and Friends of Mrs. J. FLYNN, PROFESSOR T. T. FLYNN and FAMILY, and Mr. and Mrs. H. RUSSELL and FAMILY are invited to attend the Funeral of their beloved GRANDSON, NEPHEW, and COUSIN, Donald Arthur Worstead. For further particulars see preceding notice.

• Death, NSW BDM 5671/1977, WORSTEAD Stella Claudine, (F)John, (M)Jessie.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #29538/1883; registered at Casino
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Wikipedia profile: Theodore Thomson Flynn; accessed 21 Sep 2020
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #735/1909
4. ↑ University of Tasmania biography; accessed 21 Sep 2020
5. ↑ Bryden, William. Flynn, Theodore Thomson (1883–1968); Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1981
6. ↑ The Mercury, (Hobart, Tas.: 1860-1954) Tue 30 Jul 1946 Page 20 Dr Flynn To Cruise With Actor Son; Trove
7. ↑ UK FreeBMD Death Index Dec qtr 1968, vol 6b, page 447; registed at Petersfield
8. ↑ The Canberra Times (ACT), Sat 26 Oct 1968, Page 8, Flynn's father dead; Trove