English banker, Parliamentarian and scientist, born in London on the 30th of April 1834. He was the son of Sir J. W. Lubbock (1803–65), the astronomer and mathematician, and when fourteen years of age entered his father’s banking-house, and in 1856 became a partner. He was chosen honorary secretary to the Association of London Bankers, first president of the Institute of Bankers, and served on the International Coinage Commission, as a member of the Public School Commission, the Advancement of Science Commission, the Education Commission and the Gold and Silver Commission. In 1870 he was returned for Maidstone, and, on losing his seat in 1880, was returned for London University—since 1886 as a Liberal Unionist. As a politician he devoted himself chiefly to financial and educational subjects, and succeeded in passing more than a dozen important public measures, including the Bank Holidays Act, the Bills of Exchange Bill (which regulates the whole law relating to checks, bills and promissory notes), and the Shop-hours Bill. He was vice-chancellor of the University of London from 1872 to 1880; a trustee of the British Museum; in 1881 president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science; president of the London Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the London County Council. He has written many original scientific works, and been raised to the peerage. Among them are Prehistoric Times (1865), as illustrated by ancient remains and the manners and customs of modern savages; The Origin of Civilization and Primitive Condition of Man (1870), dealing with the mental and social aspect of savages; The Races of the British Isles (1887), a reprint of letters to the London Times; Scientific Lectures (1879), a brochure on Representation (1885), in the Imperial Parliament Series; Fifty Years of Science (1881), a British Science Association address; Addresses: Political and Educational (1879); three volumes in the Nature Series: On the Origin and Metamorphoses of Insects (1873); On British Wild Flowers in Relation to Insects (1875); and Flowers, Fruit and Leaves (1886). In 1882 he published a volume in the International Scientific Series, on Ants, Bees and Wasps. Another volume, which also appeared in the International Scientific Series, is On the Senses, Instincts and Intelligence of Animals, with Special Reference to Insects (1889). He also wrote A Contribution to the Knowledge of Seedlings (2 vols., 1892). He published a series of essays of an entertaining character, the first of which, entitled The Pleasures of Life (1887), had myriads of readers. The others of the series, in the order of their appearing, are The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live In (1892), and The Use of Life (1895). To these he added The Scenery of Switzerland (1896).
