William Abbott Herdman

Sir William Abbott Herdman FRS FRSE FLS (5 September 1858, Edinburgh – 21 July 1924) was a Scottish marine zoologist and oceanographer.

He was born in Edinburgh the son of the artist Robert Herdman RSA and his wife, Emma Abbott.

In this capacity he was placed as Secretary to the Challenger Expedition Commission: overseeing the deciphering of the huge catalogue of information found during this important exploration.

[4] In 1890, he founded the research station at Puffin Island off the north Wales coast, appointing Philip Jacob White as its director.

[citation needed] He married twice: firstly in 1882 to Sarah Wyse Douglas (1861-1886), daughter of David Douglas, publisher and bookseller,[8] and secondly in 1893 to Jane Brandreth Holt (1867–1922), daughter of the shipping merchant Alfred Holt.

British Association members of the voyage around Africa 1905. W.A. Herdman and his wife are left in the middle row.
Small Colony of Pyrosoma: illustration by W A Herdman
Grave of Sir William Abbott Herdman in Highgate Cemetery