Henry Dighton Thomas

Henry Dighton Thomas (1900-1966) was a geologist and academic at the University of Cambridge and Natural History Museum.

Henry Dighton Thomas was born in London on 31 October 1900. He attended Westminster City School in his youth and with the encouragement of one of his Masters, pursued geology as a favourite subject. He won an Open Scholarship to Emmanuel College, Cambridge where he took his degree in 1923, with a Second Class Pass in Part II of the Natural Sciences Tripos. Although she had to resign work upon her marriage, she continued to work unpaid as a volunteer until 1961. They had one son, James.

During World War II, the collections he helped to manage were moved to Lincolnshire to protect them from the bombing of London which was anticipated.

Thomas became a Fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1949. He received a Murchison Fund award from the Geological Society in 1950.

Thomas became Deputy Keeper of Palaeontology in 1963, and retired in 1965. He continued to volunteer at the Museum until his death in London in 1966.

Henry Dighton Thomas died on 31 August 1966 and was survived by his wife and son.