McCoy, Frederick

P000589 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn updated 2026-04-29 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000589b.htm person McCoy Frederick KCMG FRS AACR2 1817 13 May 1899 Place of Birth Dublin, Ireland Place of Death Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Palaeontologist Naturalist Museum director Frederick McCoy was Professor of Natural Sciences at the University of Melbourne from 1854 to 1899, one of the first four professors at the University. He also held the positions of Palaeontologist to the Geological Survey of Victoria and Director of the National Museum of Victoria. McCoy made substantial contributions to the study of Victoria's zoology and geology. Among his significant publications are Prodromus of the zoology of Victoria (20 decades, 1878 - 1890) and Prodromus of the palaeontology of Victoria (7 decades, 1874 - 1882). Among the controversies in which he was embroiled were the transfer of the Government's museum collections to the University and the age of the Australian coal measures. He was fervent in his rejection of the theory of natural selection. McCoy was President of the Royal Society of Victoria in 1864 and the first President of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria from 1880 to 1883. 1845 1850 Career position - Chair of Geology and Mineralogy, Queen's University, Belfast, Ireland 1850 1853 Career position - Chair of Geology and Mineralogy, Queen's University, Belfast, Ireland 1852 1899 Award - Fellow, Geological Society, London 1854 1855 Career position - Member, Philosophical Society of Victoria 1854 1895 Career position - Professor of Natural Science, University of Melbourne 1855 1859 Career position - Member, Philosophical Institute of Victoria 1856 1857 Career position - Member of Council, Philosophical Institute of Victoria 1856 1869 Career position - Palaeontologist, Geological Survey of Victoria 1858 1860 Career position - Member, Board of Science, Colony of Victoria 1858 1899 Career position - Director, National Museum of Victoria 1859 1899 Career position - Member, Royal Society of Victoria 1862 1871 Career position - Member of Council, Acclimatisation Society of Victoria 1864 1864 Career position - President, Royal Society of Victoria 1875 1899 Award - Honorary Member, Royal Society of New South Wales 1879 1879 Award - Murchison Medal, Geological Society, London 1880 1883 Career position - Inaugural President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria 1880 1899 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 1881 1881 Award - Clarke Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales 1883 1899 Career position - Honorary Member, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria 1886 1886 Award - Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) 1886 1886 Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Cambridge 1891 1891 Award - Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) Sweet, George (1844 - 1920) Philosophical Institute of Victoria (1855 - 1859)

Member 1855 - 1859; Member of Council 1856 - 1857

McCoy Society for Research and Investigation (1935 - 1999?)

The Society was named in his honour

Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia (1866 - 1867)

Commissioner 1865 - 1867

Royal Society of Victoria (1859 - )

President 1864

National Museum of Victoria (1858 - 1983)

Director 1858 - 1896

Acclimatisation Society of Victoria (1861 - 1872)

Member of committee 1862 - 1871; Vice-President 1871 - 1872

The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Inc (1880 - )

President 1880 - 1883; Honorary Member 1883 - 1899

King, Georgina (1845 - 1932)

Correspondent

Philosophical Society of Victoria (1854 - 1855)

Member 1854 - 1855

Royal Society of New South Wales (1866 - )

Honorary Member 1875 - 1899

Victorian Exploring Expedition (1860 - 1861)

Member of the Exploration Committee of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria (later Royal Society of Victoria) 1857 - 1862

Board of Science, Colony of Victoria (1858 - 1860)

Member 1858 - 1860

Department of Natural Philosophy, The University of Melbourne (1882 - 1944)

Professor of Natural Sciences 1854-1899

Clarke Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales (1878 - )

Awarded the Medal 1881

Royal Commission for Promoting Technological and Industrial Instruction, Parliament of Victoria (1869 - 1890)

Member of Commission 1869 - 1890

Museum of Natural History, Colony of Victoria (1854 - 1858)

Caused the Victorian Goverment's museum collection to be moved to the University of Melbourne 1856

Geological Survey of Victoria (1852 - )

Palaeontologist 1856 - 1869

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

McCoy, Frederick (1817-1899)

Trove

'McCoy, Frederick', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology McCoy, Frederick Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Parliamentary paper: Progress report of the Technological Commission Royal Commission for Promoting Technological and Industrial Instruction. Victoria Progress report of the Technological Commission Melbourne John Ferres, Government Printer 1869 Conference Proceedings: The History of Geology in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century: the Story in Australia, and in Victoria, from Selwyn and McCoy to Gregory 1853 to 1903 Pierson, Roger The History of Geology in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century: the Story in Australia, and in Victoria, from Selwyn and McCoy to Gregory 1853 to 1903 Melbourne Earth Sciences History Group, Geological Society of Australia 2007 Resource: Caught & Coloured: Zoological Illustrations from Colonial Victoria Museum Victoria Caught & Coloured: Zoological Illustrations from Colonial Victoria 2006 Journal Article: McCoy Special issues, parts 1 and 2 Grey, Merilyn and Morton, Anne (editors) McCoy Special issues, parts 1 and 2 2001 The Victorian naturalist 118 5/6 145-332 Journal Article: The Battle for the Museum: Frederick McCoy and the Establishment of the National Museum of Victoria at the University of Melbourne Wilkinson, Ian R The Battle for the Museum: Frederick McCoy and the Establishment of the National Museum of Victoria at the University of Melbourne 1996 Historical Records of Australian Science 11 1 1-11 Journal Article: Frederick McCoy: an Eminent Victorian Paleontologist and His Synopses of Irish Palaeontology of 1844 and 1846 Jackson, Patrick N. Wyse and Monaghan, Nigel T. Frederick McCoy: an Eminent Victorian Paleontologist and His Synopses of Irish Palaeontology of 1844 and 1846 1994 Geology Today 231-234 Book Section: McCoy, Sir Frederick (1817-1899), professor and museum director Fendley, G. C. McCoy, Sir Frederick (1817-1899), professor and museum director Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1974 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 5: 1851 - 1890 K-Q Douglas Pike 134-135 Journal Article: Frederick McCoy: First Science Professor at the University of Melbourne Wilkinson, Ian R. Frederick McCoy: First Science Professor at the University of Melbourne 1996 History of Education Review 25 1 54-70 Parliamentary paper: Third report of the Technological Commission Royal Commission for Promoting Technological and Industrial Instruction. Victoria. Third report of the Technological Commission Melbourne John Ferres, Government Printer 1870 Parliamentary paper: Further report of the Technological Commission Royal Commission for Promoting Technological and Industrial Instruction. Victoria. Further report of the Technological Commission Melbourne John Ferres, Government Printer 1869 Journal Article: A commentary on "A communication made by the Rev. W. B. Clarke to his Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., &c., President of the Royal Society of Victoria, on Professor McCoy's new Taeniopteris", &c., &c. McCoy, Frederick A commentary on "A communication made by the Rev. W. B. Clarke to his Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., &c., President of the Royal Society of Victoria, on Professor McCoy's new Taeniopteris", &c., &c. 1861 Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria 5 96-107 Journal Article: Note on the Rev. Mr Clarke's "Remarks", &c. McCoy, Frederick Note on the Rev. Mr Clarke's "Remarks", &c. 1861 Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria 5 215-7 Book: The order and plan of creation: the substance of two lectures delivered in connection with the Early Closing Association McCoy, F. The order and plan of creation: the substance of two lectures delivered in connection with the Early Closing Association Melbourne Samuel Mullen 1870 Parliamentary paper: Building stone Board on Claims to Reward for the Discovery of the Building Stone Building stone Melbourne John Ferres, Government Printer 1858 Journal Article: No Stone Unturned: in Search of Professor Sir Frederick McCoy, FRS Carkeek, Malcolm No Stone Unturned: in Search of Professor Sir Frederick McCoy, FRS 1998 Victorian Historical Journal 69 1 24-39 Book: On the formation of museums in Victoria McCoy, Frederick On the formation of museums in Victoria Melbourne Goodhugh & Hough 1857 Book: Collections of a century: the history of the first hundred years of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne Pescott, R. T. M. Collections of a century: the history of the first hundred years of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne Melbourne National Museum of Victoria 1954 Journal Article: The University of Melbourne Herbarium, from McCoy to MELU: a broken paper-trail Gillbank, Linden The University of Melbourne Herbarium, from McCoy to MELU: a broken paper-trail 2007 University of Melbourne Collections 1 20-8 Book Section: Curiosities or Science in the National Museum of Victoria: Procurement Networks and the Purpose of a Museum Knapman, Gareth Curiosities or Science in the National Museum of Victoria: Procurement Networks and the Purpose of a Museum Manchester Manchester University Press 2012 Curating Empire: Museums and the British Imperial Experience Longair, Sarah and McAleer, John 83-103 Journal Article: Professor Frederick McCoy and the National Museum of Victoria, 1856-1899 Rasmussen, Carolyn Professor Frederick McCoy and the National Museum of Victoria, 1856-1899 2001 The Victorian naturalist 117 5 230-239 Book Section: The Fuss About Coal: Troubled Relations between Palaeonbotany and Geology Vallance, T. G. The Fuss About Coal: Troubled Relations between Palaeonbotany and Geology Sydney Academic Press 1981 Plants and Man in Australia D. J. Carr and S. G. M. Carr 136-76 Journal Article: Frederick McCoy and the University of Melbourne Wilkinson, Ian Frederick McCoy and the University of Melbourne 2001 The Victorian naturalist 118 186-92 Journal Article: Animal acclimatisation: McCoy and the menagerie the became Melbourne's zoo Gillbank, Linden Animal acclimatisation: McCoy and the menagerie the became Melbourne's zoo 2001 The Victorian naturalist 118 297-304 Journal Article: Frederick McCoy Darragh, Thomas A. Frederick McCoy 1992 The Fossil Collector Bulletin 36 15-22 Journal Article: Birds, books and money: McCoy's correspondence with John Gould (1857-1876) Fleming, Althea Birds, books and money: McCoy's correspondence with John Gould (1857-1876) 2001 The Victorian naturalist 118 210-8 Thesis: Some Foundations of Science in Victoria in the Decade After Separation Cohn, Helen M. Some Foundations of Science in Victoria in the Decade After Separation Melbourne University of Melbourne 1990 Journal Article: McCoy and Clarke: their dispute over the age of Australia's black coal Pierson, Roger McCoy and Clarke: their dispute over the age of Australia's black coal 2001 The Victorian naturalist 118 219-25 Journal Article: Frederick McCoy and the FNCV Houghton, Sheila Frederick McCoy and the FNCV 2001 The Victorian naturalist 118 314-8 Journal Article: Remarks on professor McCoy's commentary Clarke, W. B. Remarks on professor McCoy's commentary 186 Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria 5 209-14 Review: Historical Records of Australian Science Branagan, David 2002 Historical Records of Australian Science 14 2 222-225 Book: Upside Down World: Early European Impressions of Australia's Curious Animals Olsen, Penny Upside Down World: Early European Impressions of Australia's Curious Animals Canberra National Library of Australia 2010 Journal Article: Frederick McCoy and the Silurian System McCann, Doug and Archbold, N. W. Frederick McCoy and the Silurian System 2005 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 117 151-173 Book: The Cranbourne meteorite Murphy, Sean The Cranbourne meteorite North Melbourne Australian Scholarly publishing 2023 Book Section: Stolen stones and bare-faced brick Goad, Philip Stolen stones and bare-faced brick Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 2024 Dhoombak goobgoowana: a history of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne - Volume 1: The Truth Ross L. Jones, James Waghorne and Marcia Langton 50-66 Journal Article: Australian museums, Aboriginal skeletal remains, and the imagining of human evolutionary history Turnbull, Paul Australian museums, Aboriginal skeletal remains, and the imagining of human evolutionary history 2015 Museum & society 13 1 72-87 Thesis: The Mining Collection of the National Museum of Victoria, 1856-1871 Aitken, Richard The Mining Collection of the National Museum of Victoria, 1856-1871 Melbourne University of Melbourne 1990 Journal Article: The Acclimatisation Society of Victoria Gillbank, Linden Rae The Acclimatisation Society of Victoria 1980 Victorian historical journal 51 4 255-70 Book: From System Garden to Scientific Research: The University of Melbourne's School of Botany under its First Two Professors (1906-1973) Gillbank, Linden From System Garden to Scientific Research: The University of Melbourne's School of Botany under its First Two Professors (1906-1973) Parkville, Vic. School of Botany, University of Melbourne 2010 Journal Article: University Botany in Colonial Victoria: Frederick McCoy's Botanical Classes and Collections at the University of Melbourne Gillbank, Linden University Botany in Colonial Victoria: Frederick McCoy's Botanical Classes and Collections at the University of Melbourne 2008 Historical Records of Australian Science 19 1 53-82 Journal Article: Assembling Acclimatization: Frederick McCoy, European Ideas, Australian Circumstances Minard, Peter Assembling Acclimatization: Frederick McCoy, European Ideas, Australian Circumstances 2013 Historical Records of Australian Science 24 1 1-14 Journal Article: Natural selection and the "antiquity of man": intellectual impacts in the Australian colonies Way, Amy Natural selection and the "antiquity of man": intellectual impacts in the Australian colonies 2021 Studies in history and philosophy of science 90 308-20 Journal Article: John Gould's Correspondence with Sir Frederick McCoy Mack, G. John Gould's Correspondence with Sir Frederick McCoy 1938 Emu 38 2 212-6 Journal Article: The fate of the Cranbourne meteorites Maroske, Sara The fate of the Cranbourne meteorites 2001 The Victorian naturalist 118 305-8 Journal Article: Professor Sir Frederick McCoy, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc. (Cantab.), F.R.S., F.G.S. Woodward, H. Professor Sir Frederick McCoy, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.Sc. (Cantab.), F.R.S., F.G.S. 1899 Geological magazine, new series 6 283-7 Journal Article: McCoy's Prodromus of the zoology of Victoria: an unfinished task Yen, A. L. [and others] McCoy's Prodromus of the zoology of Victoria: an unfinished task 2001 The Victorian naturalist 118 6 242-55 Journal Article: Natural Observations: the Artists of Frederick McCoy's Zoology of Victoria Kean, John and Carland, Rebecca Natural Observations: the Artists of Frederick McCoy's Zoology of Victoria 2005 The Victorian naturalist 122 366-75 Journal Article: Obituary - Sir Frederick McCoy, K.C.M.G., F.R.S. [In Anniversary Address.]. Whitaker, W. Obituary - Sir Frederick McCoy, K.C.M.G., F.R.S. [In Anniversary Address.]. 1900 Proceedings of the Geological Society in Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society 56 lix-lx Journal Article: Sir Frederick McCoy, 1823 - 1899 Woodward, Henry Sir Frederick McCoy, 1823 - 1899 1905 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 75 43-5 Journal Article: The Origins of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria: Practical Science in the Wake of the Gold Rush Gillbank, Linden The Origins of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria: Practical Science in the Wake of the Gold Rush 1986 Historical Records of Australian Science 6 3 359-374 Resource: Science and the making of Victoria Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Science and the making of Victoria 2001 Journal Article: A story of human endeavour: the Cape Paterson coal field, Victoria Enever, Jim A story of human endeavour: the Cape Paterson coal field, Victoria 2017 Journal of Australasian Mining History 15 21-46 Journal Article: Origins of Australian Geology Vallance, T. G. Origins of Australian Geology 1975 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 100 13-43 Journal Article: An outline of the history of palaeontology in Australia Brown, I. A. An outline of the history of palaeontology in Australia 1946 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 71 v-xviii Book Section: Learning and Teaching Science: Women Making Careers 1890-1920 Kelly, Farley Learning and Teaching Science: Women Making Careers 1890-1920 Melbourne Text Publishing Company 1993 On the Edge of Discovery: Australian Women in Science Farley Kelly 35-75 Journal Article: The scientists and Darwin's The origin of species in nineteenth century Australia: a re-evaluation Moyal, Ann: with Robert E. Marks The scientists and Darwin's The origin of species in nineteenth century Australia: a re-evaluation 2019 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 152 1 5-26 Book: Dictionary of Australian biography Serle, Percival Dictionary of Australian biography Sydney Angus & Robertson 1949 Book Section: Human remains Jones, Ross L. Human remains Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 2024 Dhoombak goobgoowana: a history of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne - Volume 1: The Truth Ross L. Jones, James Waghorne and Marcia Langton 95-106 Book Section: "The Whole Great Continent as a Present": Nineteenth-century Australian Women Workers in Science Maroske, Sara "The Whole Great Continent as a Present": Nineteenth-century Australian Women Workers in Science Melbourne Text Publishing Company 1993 On the Edge of Discovery: Australian Women in Science Farley Kelly 13-34 Journal Article: Pioneers and leaders - a record of Australian palaeontology in the nineteenth century Vallance, T. G. Pioneers and leaders - a record of Australian palaeontology in the nineteenth century 1978 Alcheringa 2 243-50 Frederick McCoy - Records Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales Frederick McCoy - Records A126 Testimony by McCoy on the qualifications of E. Gilks [Item 21, A126]. Frederick McCoy - Records Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales Frederick McCoy - Records A100 1865 Letter from W.B. Cunningham to N.D. Stenhouse 1865 concerning a lectureship at the University of Sydney [A100, p307]. Frederick McCoy - Records National Herbarium, Melbourne Frederick McCoy - Records MSS M35 1857 - 1889 11 letters from F. Mueller 1857-89 about the National Museum of Victoria, museum specimens, plant identification, the Royal Society of Victoria, the Victorian Exploring Expedition, and Mueller's removal from the position of Director of the Botanic Gardens. 11 items Frederick McCoy - Records State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection Frederick McCoy - Records 1857 - 1869 5 letters from Alexander MacMillan, publishers, 1857-62; letter to G. Evans, 1869. 6 items Frederick McCoy - Records Museum Victoria Frederick McCoy - Records 1858 - 1899 Correspondence and other records of McCoy as Director of the National Museum of Victoria c1858-99. Frederick McCoy - Records Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales Frederick McCoy - Records A675 1841 - 1892 Inwards correspondence 1841-92. Australian Botanists - Biographies Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science Australian Botanists - Biographies MS 064 Hunt Institute Biographies. Short biographies, averaging 2 pages, of Australian botanists, botanical collectors or artists. 0.24 m, 3 boxes George Ernest Morrison - Records Mitchell and Dixson Libraries Manuscripts Collection, State Library of New South Wales George Ernest Morrison - Records ML MSS 312 1850 - 1932 Contents includes diaries, works for publication, reminiscences, correspondence, invoices, receipts and miscellanea. 232 volumes, 87 boxes, 1 folder and 3 portfolios Adolph Basser Library Pictorial Collection Adolph Basser Library, Australian Academy of Science Adolph Basser Library Pictorial Collection MS 056 Collection of portrait photographs. Subjects include Frederick McCoy, William Macleay, Joseph Fletcher, Charles Darwin and William Harvey. 0.42 m, 3 boxes Photographs McCoy, Frederick Portrait McCoy, Frederick Portrait Royal Society of Victoria Presidential Portrait

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