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Theodore Thomson Flynn

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Theodore Thomson Flynn
Born(1883-10-11)11 October 1883
Died23 October 1968(1968-10-23) (aged 85)
Spouse
Lily Mary (Marelle) Young
(m. 1909)
ChildrenErrol Flynn
Scientific career
Fields

Theodore Thomson Flynn MBE FLS FZS FRS MRIA (11 October 1883 – 23 October 1968) was an Australian-British zoologist and marine biologist and a professor in both Tasmania and the United Kingdom. He was the first biology professor in Tasmania. Flynn was the father of the actor Errol Flynn.

Biography

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Theodore Thomson Flynn was born in Coraki, New South Wales, Australia, the son of Jessie B. (née Thomson) and John Flynn a cordial manufacturer.[1] Flynn attended Fort Street High School and later went to Sydney Teachers' College at the University of Sydney and earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Biology in 1907. He later gained Doctor of Philosophy (D.Sc.) in 1921 for his work on marsupial embryology. Flynn began working as a chemistry and physics teacher at Newcastle High School and Maitland High School. He became a biology lecturer at the University of Tasmania in 1909, becoming the first biology professor in Tasmania. He later became a professor in 1911 and teaching there until 1930.[2]

He married Lily Mary (Marelle) Young on 23 January 1909; they had two children together, a daughter Nora Rosemary Flynn, and a son, the film actor Errol Flynn.[3] Flynn and his family then moved to Northern Ireland where he served as the Chair of Zoology at Queen's University of Belfast from 1931 to 1948; he also became director of the marine station at Portaferry.[3]

After the Belfast Blitz, Flynn was the chief casualty officer for the city.[4] On 1 January 1945, Flynn was awarded an Order of the British Empire for his service.[5]

Flynn named one new species of sub-tropical kelpfish he discovered – Gibbonsia erroli – after his son.[6]

Flynn died in Liss, Hampshire, England, on 23 October, 1968.[7]

Legacy

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Flynn Lake, Macquarie Island was named after Flynn.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Theodore Thomson Flynn and Errol Flynn: the Professor and the Tasmanian Devil exhibition". University of Tasmania Library. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Flynn, Theodore Thomson". Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. Swinburne University of Technology - Centre for Transformative Innovation. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b Bryden, William, "Flynn, Theodore Thomson (1883–1968)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 14 July 2022
  4. ^ Professor T.T. Flynn with his wife Archived 2006-05-29 at the Wayback Machine, multitext.ucc.ie; accessed 26 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Belfast Gazette (number 1,223)" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Famous fictional pirate based on Irish double agent who stole Crown Jewels". News Letter. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Flynn, Theodore Thomson". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
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Further reading

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