Origins & Early Life

Davidson Black (July 25, 1884 – March 15, 1934) was a Canadian paleoanthropologist, best known for his naming of Sinanthropus pekinensis (now Homo erectus pekinensis). He was Chairman of the Geological Survey of China and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was known as 步達生 (pinyin: Bù Dáshēng) in China. Black was born in 1884, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

When he was a child, he would spend many summers near or on the Kawartha lakes. As a teenager, he would carry heavy loads of supplies for the Hudson's Bay Company. He also enjoyed collecting fossils along the banks of the Don River. He also became friends with First Nations people, and learned one First Nations language. Black also searched unsuccessfully for gold along the Kawartha lakes.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Black showed an interest in biology at an early age, despite being born to a family associated with the legal profession. In 1906, Black earned a degree in medical science at the University of Toronto. He continued in school, studying comparative anatomy. In 1909, Black became an anatomy instructor. He spent half a year in 1914 working under a neuroanatomist Grafton Elliot Smith, in Manchester...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Amedeo Modigliani — Contemporary (Born in 1884) (1884): Italian painter and sculptor known for elongated, modern portraits and nudes.
• Auguste Piccard — Contemporary (Born in 1884) (1884): Swiss physicist, inventor, and pioneer of stratospheric and abyssal exploration.
• Bedřich Smetana — Contemporary (Died in 1884) (1884): Father of Czech Music, known for Má vlast and The Bartered Bride.
• Alan Arkin — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Esteemed American actor, filmmaker, and musician with a seven-decade career.
• Baby Face Nelson — Contemporary (Died in 1934) (1934): Notorious American bank robber, known for his youthful appearance and partnership with John Dillinger.
• Bill Russell — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Center for the Boston Celtics, a 12-time champion and basketball legend.
• Adnan Khashoggi — Shared historical date (07-25 · Born) (1935): Saudi businessman and arms dealer, known as 'The Great Gatsby of the Middle East'
• Ben Hogan — Shared historical date (07-25 · Died) (1997): American golf legend whose skill and practice profoundly shaped the modern game.
• Abe Saperstein — Shared historical date (03-15 · Died) (1966): Founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, revolutionized black basketball.
• Alia Bhatt — Shared historical date (03-15 · Born) (1993): Acclaimed British-Indian actress known for versatile roles in Hindi cinema.
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• 1934 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1934
• March 15 (03-15) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 15