Horner , Leonard , 1785-1864 , geologist

Leonard Horner was born and educated in Edinburgh. He worked initially in his family's linen business and later, unsuccessfully, as an underwiter at Lloyd's insurance office; after his father's death in 1829 he had a private income. From 1833 to 1859 he was a member of the Royal Commission on the employment of children in factories and worked hard to ensure that factory workers received the legal protection to which they were entitled. Horner was very interested in scholarship: in 1821 he founded the Edinburgh School of Arts (later to become Herriot-Watt University) and was the first warden and secretary of the new University of London (later University College London) during 1827-1831. His keenest interest was in geology and he served twice as president of the Geological Society (1845-1846 and 1860-1861), controversially allowing women to attend meetings during his second term of office. In 1813 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.