Gideon Mantell

**Gideon Algernon Mantell** MRCS FRS (Lewes, 3 February 1790 – London, 10 November 1852) was an English obstetrician, geologist and palaeontologist.

Mantell's work on the structure and life of _Iguanodon_ began the scientific study of dinosaurs. In 1822 he was responsible for the discovery (and the eventual identification) of the first fossil teeth, and later much of the skeleton, of _Iguanodon_.

Mantell's work on the Cretaceous of southern England was also important. His phrase the "Age of Reptiles" was significant. He recognised that reptiles were the dominant life-form in what we now call the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

Mantell did two things which were most important. He showed that the teeth of _Iguanodon_ meant it must be a herbivore, and its shorter front legs meant it could be bipedal (walk on two legs). This was denied by Richard Owen, who did a good deal to hide Mantell's achievements. The discovery of this fossil is known to be the first evidence of a prehistoric reptilian dinosaur, dating back roughly 130 million years ago.

At the end of Mantell's life he suffered terribly from damage to his spine caused by an accident. He took an overdose of opium, which caused his death. It is not known whether he did this deliberately; he took opium to dull the pain.

## Works by Mantell

Sixty-seven books and memoirs appear in Agassiz and Strickland's _Bibliographia Zoologiæ_, and forty-eight scientific papers in the Royal Society's Catalogue.
- _The Fossils of the South Downs_. Royal 4to, 42 plates. London 1822. This was his first book, the plates of which were drawn by his wife. Very expensive, at £3. 3/- (three guineas). At double the price, plates were hand-coloured.
- _Outlines of the natural history of the environs of Lewes_. 4to, 24pp, 3pl. Lewes, 1824.
- _Illustrations of the Geology of Sussex_, containing figures and descriptions of the fossils of Tilgate Forest. Royal 4to, 20 plates, £2. 15s. 6d. 1827.
- _The Geological Age of Reptiles_. In Jameson's Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, 1831.
- _The Geology of the South-East of England_. 8vo, with coloured maps, sections, and numerous plates, £1. 1/-. 1833.
- _Thoughts on a Pebble_. 1836.
- _The Wonders of Geology_ or, a familiar exposition of geological phenomena: being the substance of a course of lectures delivered at Brighton. 2 vols, London, 1838. Lithographic plates drawn by his wife. Data from 4th ed of 1840: vol 1: 428p, frontis & 4 plates; vol 2: pages 429795 plus appendix, glossary and other material, coloured frontis & 10 coloured pates, most drawn by his wife. Mantell's most extensive work.
- _The Medals of Creation_. 2 vols, 1844.
- _Thoughts on Animalcules_. small 4to, 144p, 12 coloured plates. London: Murray, 1846. 1850 title: _The invisible world revealed by the microscope or, thoughts on animalcules_.
- _Geological Excursions round the Isle of Wight and along the adjacent Coast of Dorsetshire_. 1847.
- _Pictorial Atlas of Fossil Remains consisting of coloured Illustration selected from Parkinson's "Organic Remains of Former World" and Arti's "Antediluvian Phytology"._ London: Bohn. 1850.
- _Petrifactions and their teachings_. 1851.

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Gideon Mantell
- **image**: Gideonmantell.jpg
- **image size**: 200px
- **caption**: <small>Gideon Mantell 1790  1852</small>
- **birth place**: Lewes, Sussex, England
- **death place**: London, England
- **occupation**: Surgeon, geologist, paleontology, palaeontologist
- **known for**: Describing _Iguanodon_
- **awards**: Royal Medal
- **relations**: Walter Mantell (son)