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Harold John Finlay

1901 – 1951

New Zealand palaeontologist and conchologist

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About Harold John Finlay

Lived 1901 – 1951 (aged 50). Harold John Finlay was a New Zealand paleontologist, malacologist and composer.

Harold John Finlay (22 March 1901 – 7 April 1951) was a New Zealand palaeontologist and conchologist.

Biography Finlay was born in Comilla, India (now Bangladesh), on 22 March 1901, to a family of Baptist missionaries. He was left a paraplegic after contracting poliomyelitis at the age of four, but was able to participate in field excursions. The family moved to Dunedin in 1906. He received the Hamilton Memorial Prize of the New Zealand Institute in 1926 and a D.Sc. in 1927. and was awarded the society's Hector Memorial Medal in 1941.

Finlay died, unexpectedly, at his home in Wellington on 7 April 1951.

Personal life

Finlay married Jean Dorothy Waterson Gillies in 1937.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Otago
Awards
Hector Medal; Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi; Hamilton Award
Also known as
H J Finlay, Harold Finlay

People in Harold John Finlay's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Harold John Finlay's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Harold John Finlay?

New Zealand palaeontologist and conchologist (1901–1951)

When was Harold John Finlay born?

Harold John Finlay was born on 22 March 1901 in Cumilla.

When did Harold John Finlay die?

Harold John Finlay died on 7 April 1951.

What was Harold John Finlay's occupation?

Harold John Finlay was a paleontologist, malacologist and composer.

What nationality was Harold John Finlay?

Harold John Finlay was New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Harold John Finlay

· Wikidata: Q15998089

· DBpedia: Harold Finlay

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Harold John Finlay. https://biography.guide/harold-john-finlay/

MLA: "Harold John Finlay." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/harold-john-finlay/.

Chicago: "Harold John Finlay." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/harold-john-finlay/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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