William Kitchen Parker (1823 - 1890)

Born 23 Jun 1823 in Dogsthorpe, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Elizabeth (Jeffery) Parker — married 24 Dec 1849 in Westminster, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 3 Jul 1890 at age 67 in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: James Knighton [send private message]

Biography

William Parker is Notable.

William Parker was born in Northamptonshire, England.

Parker was born in the village of Dogsthorpe, near Peterborough in the County of Northamptonshire. His father, Thomas Parker, was a working farmer, living in a thatched house, built in 1635. Thomas was a Wesleyan of the old school: a Methodist-Churchman, God-fearing and courteous, farming his own land. He married the daughter of another farmer, Sarah Kitchen, whose name was also given to their son William.

William Parker was the second son, and six other children in the family died in their infancy. He went to a village dame school early in life, then to parish schools in Werrington and Paston. Schooling was interspersed with farm-work.

After telling his father that farm work was not for him, Parker entered the Peterborough Grammar School for nine months, and then started on the road to medical education. He was articled to a surgeon at Market Overton in 1842, using his spare time to teach himself about the plants of the neighbourhood. His knowledge of botany became remarkably extensive and accurate.

In 1842 he became apprenticed to a country surgeon. During this time he continued educating himself in natural history by reading, looking and doing. The doing consisted of collecting and dissecting birds and mammals, and working up a portfolio of exquisitely beautiful and accurate drawings.

Parker married Elizabeth Jeffery whilst still a student: she was the daughter of the clerk to the Vauxhall Bridge Company. Her mother was the sister of Joseph Prendergast DD (1791–1875), the Headmaster of Colfe's School (1831–1857), and the benefactor of Prendergast School, both in the borough of Lewisham.

William and Elizabeth had seven children, three daughters and four sons. The first son, Thomas Jeffery Parker, became Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy in the University of Otago, New Zealand; the second, William Newton Parker, became Professor of Biology in the University College, Cardiff; the third was a draughtsman and lithographer; the fourth was a surgeon. In his work on the vertebrate skull Parker became close to Thomas Henry Huxley, and named one of his sons after him. His first son was sent to study under Huxley, and became in 1872 one of Huxley's demonstrators.

Parker was elected FRS in 1865, and a few years afterwards the Royal Society gave him an annual grant to aid his work, and a generous Wesleyan friend more than once presented £100 towards the cost of publishing some of his plates. Later in life a State pension was awarded.

The honours and appointments Parker gained later in life were due mainly for his work on the vertebrate skeleton and its significance in establishing a "true theory of the vertebrate skull" (Edward Sabine). His Royal Society obituary notice described him as "An unworldly seeker after truth, loved by all who knew him". He is buried in a Wandsworth cemetery under a cross of red granite.

Sources

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7MZ-VXS : 20 March 2020), William Kitchen Parker, 1823.
• "England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJWG-TZ8 : 13 March 2020), William Kitchen Parker, 1849.
• "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SG6T-FBR : 9 November 2019), William R Parker, St John The Evangelist, Middlesex, England; citing St John The Evangelist, Middlesex, England, p. 33, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
• "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7LQ-YD7 : 12 September 2020), William Kitchen Parker, London, Middlesex, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBFS-98G : 25 June 2022), William H Parker, 1871.
• "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q273-8FT5 : 10 December 2017), William K Parker, St George Hanover Square, London,Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 27, Piece/Folio 103/93, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,336.
• "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2J62-VH1 : 31 December 2014), William Kitchen Parker, 1890; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales, General Register Office, Southport, England.
• "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPLW-2YL5 : 17 September 2018), William Kitchen Parker, Jan 1891; citing Probate, Surrey, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187274465/william-kitchen-parker: accessed 27 October 2022), memorial page for William Kitchen Parker (23 Jun 1823–3 Jul 1890), Find a Grave Memorial ID 187274465, citing Wandsworth Cemetery, Wandsworth, London Borough of Wandsworth, Greater London, England; Maintained by William Bjornstad (contributor 47016546).

See Also:

• William Kitchen Parker on Wikipedia
• William Kitchen Parker on Dogsthorpe.com
• William Kitchen Parker on Nature.com