Occasional Magazine N.S. Vol.1 No.1 (January 1980)
Henry Keeping – Geologist (1827-1924) by Marjorie E. J. Chandler. The biography is given of Henry Keeping, notable geologist and fossil collector in the 19th century, who lived for some years in Milford and who had published work on fossil remains at Hordle Cliff. Even as a small boy, Keeping showed remarkable business acumen and he soon put this to good account by collecting fossils and selling them to museums and individual collectors. He had had little schooling but when the Marchioness of Hastings, a keen geologist, bought the Efford Estate in 1849 her patronage enabled Keeping to buy himself out of an apprenticeship, collect for her and undertake fossil-hunting expeditions with scientists who visited her. Unfortunately, the Marchioness had to sell up and leave Efford in 1857 when swindled by her dishonest Steward. Henry Keeping became Assistant Curator in the Woodwardian Museum at Cambridge in 1862 under the famous Professor Adam Sedgwick and was promoted two years later to Curator. His career was an active one spanning 49 years until his retirement in 1911 aged 84. One of his children became a geologist, eventually as Professor of Geology at Aberystwyth University. The author researched whether Henry Keeping was a close relative of Fred Keeping, local businessman and Milford Parish Council Chairman 1907-32. It proved difficult but her conclusion was that Henry and Fred were probably first cousins once removed.
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