The Ethnology of Europe (eBook)

Robert Gordon Latham (24 March 1812 – 9 March 1888) was a British physician, ethnologist, and philologist. Born in Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England, he graduated in medicine from the University of London in 1832 and later pursued a career in philology. His contributions to the study of languages led him to become a professor at King's College London and later a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. In the sphere of ethnology, Latham's work focused on the races and languages of the British Isles but also extended to broader European contexts. His scholarly volume, 'The Ethnology of Europe' (1852), stands as a testament to his exhaustive research in the field, attempting to catalogue and differentiate the various ethnic groups and linguistic divisions on the continent, an endeavor illustrative of the nineteenth-century interest in the origins and relationships among European peoples. Latham held unconventional views on race and was a strong proponent of polygenism, which influenced his ethnological interpretations. Latham's interests in philology saw him author several other significant texts, including 'The Natural History of the Varieties of Man' (1850) and 'Descriptive Ethnology' (1859). His literary style is marked by a meticulous attention to linguistic detail and a tendency to classify and arrange based on language and etymology, reflecting the intellectual trends of his time. Despite criticisms about some of his theories and classifications, Latham remains a notable figure in the early development of ethnology and philology.