Robert William Chase (1852–1927) was a British

ornithologist Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...

, businessman, and

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

. His extensive collection of taxidermied birds is now in the care of

Birmingham Museums Trust Birmingham Museums Trust is the largest independent charitable trust of museums in the United Kingdom. It runs nine museum sites across the city of Birmingham, including Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) and Thinktank, Birmingham Science ...

. Chase owned a brush-making business in Birmingham. He was elected to the

British Ornithologists' Union The British Ornithologists' Union (BOU) aims to encourage the study of birds ("ornithology") and around the world, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation. The BOU was founded in 1858 by Professor Alfred Newton, Henry ...

in 1882. He was also vice-chairman of the board of governors of Birmingham Blue Coat School. He was Treasurer (1892-1894 ) and President (1885-1886, 1899, 1905-1907) of the Birmingham Natural History and Philosophical Society. In 1892 his address was given as "Southfield, Priory Road, Birmingham".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chase, Robert William 1852 births 1927 deaths British ornithologists British philanthropists People from Edgbaston