Editing Ray Lankester (section)

=== Trouble at the Museum ===
In Lankester's time the [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]] had its own building in [[South Kensington]], but in financial and administrative matters it was subordinate to the [[British Museum]]. Moreover, the Superintendent (= Director) of the NHM was the subordinate of the Principal Librarian of the BM, a fact which was bound to cause trouble since that august person was not a scientist.<ref>[[Albert Günther|Günther, Albert]] (1975) ''A century of zoology at the British Museum through the lives of two Keepers, 1815–1914''. London. {{ISBN|0712906185}}</ref><ref>Günther, Albert (1981) ''The founders of science at the British Museum'', 1753–1900. Halesworth, London. {{ISBN|0950727601}}</ref><ref>[[William T. Stearn|Stearn, William T.]] (1981) ''The Natural History Museum at South Kensington''. London. {{ISBN|9780565090302}}</ref> We can see that the conflict which took place was one aspect of the struggle undertaken, in their different ways, by [[Richard Owen|Owen]], [[Joseph Dalton Hooker|Hooker]], [[Thomas Henry Huxley|Huxley]] and [[John Tyndall|Tyndall]] to emancipate science from enslavement by traditional forces.

There was trouble from the moment Lankester put forward his candidature for the office vacated by Sir [[William Henry Flower|William Flower]], who was on the point of death. The Principal Librarian, Sir [[Edward Maunde Thompson]], the [[palaeographer]], was also the Secretary to the Trustees, and hence in a strong position to get his own way. There is good evidence that Thompson, an efficient and authoritarian figure, intended to take control of the whole Museum, including the Natural History departments.<ref>[[Peter Chalmers Mitchell|Mitchell, P. Chalmers]] (1937) ''My fill of days''. London. pp. 170ff.</ref><ref>Sir [[John Evans (archaeologist)|John Evans]] to Lankester, Lankester family papers; reported in [[#Lester|Lester]], pp. 128–9.</ref> In the absence of Huxley, who had led most of the battles for over thirty years, it was left to the younger generation to struggle for the independence of science, [[Peter Chalmers Mitchell|Mitchell]], [[Edward Bagnall Poulton|Poulton]], and [[Raphael Weldon|Weldon]] were his main supporters, and together they lobbied the Trustees, the Government and in the press to get their point over. Finally Lankester was appointed instead of Lazarus Fletcher (a relative nonentity).<ref>[[#Lester|Lester]], Chapter 11, pp. 127ff.</ref>

Lankester was appointed in 1898, and the outcome was inevitable. Eight years of conflict with Maunde Thompson followed, with Thompson constantly interfering in the affairs of the museum and obstructing Lankester's attempt to improve the museum. Lankester resigned in 1907, at the direction of Thompson, who had discovered a clause in the regulations which allowed him to call for the resignation of officials at the age of 60. [[Lazarus Fletcher]] was appointed in his stead. There was a vast clamour in the press, and from foreign zoologists protesting at the treatment of Lankester. That Lankester had some friends in high places was shown by the Archbishop of Canterbury offering him an enhanced pension, and the knighthood that was bestowed on him the next year.

The issues raised by this affair did not end there. Eventually the NHM gained, first, its administrative freedom, then finally there was a complete separation from the BM. Today the [[British Library]], the British Museum and the Natural History Museum all occupy separate buildings, and have complete legal, administrative and financial independence from each other.