Hincks, William

(1794-1871)

Biology
Educated for the Presbyterian ministry, but subsequently joined the Unitarian Church
University of Belfast
First Professor of Natural History in Queen’s College, Cork
Natural Sciences (Botany), University College
ROM botanical collections

William Hincks, the brother of Premier Sir Francis Hincks, was appointed as the first chair of Natural History of the University of Toronto at the age of sixty-one years old and served during the period 1853-1871. In addition to this, he continued to serve as Professor of Natural History for the next eighteen years. During his time as chair he had over 21 publications in the Canadian Journal covering a wide range of subjects in botany, invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, economics and psychology. In the past he served as Professor of Natural History at Queen's College, Cork, Ireland.

Professor Hincks died in 1871 at the age of 79 years old while still active as chair.

Craigie, H.E., (1962). A History of the Department of Zoology of the University of Toronto. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press.

Coggon, Jennifer. ‘Quinarianism after Darwin’s Origin: The circular system of William Hincks,’ Journal of the History of Biology, 35 (2002), 5-42

Wilson, J. Donald. ‘William Hincks,’ Dictionary of Canadian Biography. X (1871-1900) 349-350