Maul & Polyblank, Famous Scientists & Engineers

portraits by Maull & Polyblank to include:

Professor Sir Richard Owen F.R.S.
Studio portrait of Sir Richard Owen in his academic robes, his right hand resting upon the mounted skull of a member of the crocodile family, Sir Richard Owen (1804–1892) was one of Britain’s most influential naturalists and comparative anatomists. A Fellow of the Royal Society, he is best known for coining the term Dinosauria and for his pioneering studies of fossil and living species. Owen’s meticulous anatomical work helped shape Victorian understanding of natural history and evolution. He was instrumental in founding the Natural History Museum in London, ensuring the nation’s collections were made accessible to the public. Though sometimes a controversial figure due to his disputes with Charles Darwin, Owen’s legacy as a brilliant and tireless scholar of anatomy and palaeontology remains, the image in an arched gold surround, inscribed below in gold: "MAULL & POLYBLANK. Photo. 55 Gracechurch Street, from the Maull & Polyblank series Photographic portraits of living celebrities, no.1 issued May 1856.

The Earl of Rosse Esq., K.P., F.R.S.
Studio portrait of The Earl of Rosse seated at a desk, William Parsons (1800–1867), the 3rd Earl of Rosse, was a distinguished Irish astronomer and engineer renowned for constructing the largest telescope of the 19th century — the Leviathan of Parsonstown. Built at his estate, Birr Castle in County Offaly, the telescope’s six-foot mirror allowed unprecedented observations of nebulae, leading to the first identification of spiral galaxies. A Fellow of the Royal Society and later its President, Lord Rosse combined scientific brilliance with practical ingenuity. His work greatly advanced astronomical knowledge and mechanical engineering, the image in an arched gold surround, inscribed below in gold: "MAULL & POLYBLANK. Photo. 55 Gracechurch Street,

Professor Thomas Graham M.A., D.C.L., F.R.S.
Studio portrait of Professor Thomas Graham M.A., D.C.L., F.R.S., (1805–1869) was a pioneering Scottish chemist celebrated as the “father of colloid chemistry.” His groundbreaking research on the diffusion of gases, now known as Graham’s Law, laid the foundation for modern physical chemistry. A professor at University College London and later Master of the Royal Mint, Graham’s meticulous experiments advanced the understanding of molecular motion and separation processes. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1836, he was honoured with numerous distinctions for his contributions to science, the image in an arched gold surround, inscribed below in gold: "MAULL & POLYBLANK. Photo. 55 Gracechurch Street,

Sir B C Brodie Bart., D.C.L., F.R.S.
Studio portrait of Sir B C Brodie Bart., D.C.L., F.R.S. (1783–1862), was one of Britain’s most distinguished surgeons and physiologists. Renowned for his pioneering work on joint diseases and animal physiology, he served as Serjeant-Surgeon to King William IV and Queen Victoria. A founding figure of modern orthopaedics, Brodie was among the earliest to advocate humane and scientific approaches to surgery. Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1810, he later became its President, reflecting his immense influence in both medical science and public service. Created a Baronet in 1834, the image in an arched gold surround, inscribed below in gold: "MAULL & POLYBLANK. Photo. 55 Gracechurch Street,

Robert Stephenson Esq., MP., FRS, HonFRSE, FRSA, DCL (Hon. causa) (16 October 1803 – 12 October 1859)
Studio portrait of Robert Stephenson Esq., MP., FRS, HonFRSE, FRSA, DCL (Hon. causa) (16 October 1803 – 12 October 1859), Robert Stephenson (1803–1859) was one of the greatest engineers of the 19th century and the only son of George Stephenson, the “Father of Railways.” A pioneer of the railway age, he designed the revolutionary Rocket locomotive and engineered major railways and bridges across Britain and the world, including the iconic Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait. Elected MP for Whitby in 1847, Stephenson was widely respected for his intellect, innovation, and integrity. A Fellow of the Royal Society and numerous other learned bodies, his work helped shape the modern world through the advancement of rail transport and civil engineering, the image in an arched gold surround, inscribed below in gold: "MAULL & POLYBLANK. Photo. 55 Gracechurch Street,