Owen, Sir Richard (1804–1892), a British zoologist and anatomist. One of the foremost anatomists of his day, he also was noted for his reconstructions of prehistoric birds and other animals. He was a member of the staff of the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, 1827–56, becoming curator in 1842. He was a professor of comparative anatomy and physiology at the college, 1836–56. Owen was superintendent of the natural history department of the British Museum from 1856 until his retirement in 1883.