Charles Dixon

Naturalist Charles Edward Dixon was well-known around the world, especially for his contributions to ornithology. The son of landscape artist Charles Thomas Dixon and Louisa (née Edwards) Dixon, he was born in Camden Town, Middlesex [now London] in 1858 but relocated to Sheffield at an early age. At twelve, he started working as a student teacher, but he was more interested in teaching natural history, especially ornithology, than following the prescribed curriculum. Biology was viewed at the...See more

Naturalist Charles Edward Dixon was well-known around the world, especially for his contributions to ornithology. The son of landscape artist Charles Thomas Dixon and Louisa (née Edwards) Dixon, he was born in Camden Town, Middlesex [now London] in 1858 but relocated to Sheffield at an early age. At twelve, he started working as a student teacher, but he was more interested in teaching natural history, especially ornithology, than following the prescribed curriculum. Biology was viewed at the time as more of a diversion than a legitimate field of study. Dixon may frequently be seen nose deep in a book, perched on tree limbs or tangled in shrubs. Throughout his life, he was inclined to study in hazardous circumstances. Additionally, Dixon collaborated with Alfred Russell Wallace, who had previously worked with Charles Darwin to co-author the theory of evolution by natural selection. Wallace and Dixon co-authored multiple studies on bird migratory patterns because they had an interest in the topic. See less