AVEBURY, JOHN LUBBOCK, 1ST BARON English banker, politician and naturalist, was born in London April 30 1834, and died at Kingsgate Castle, Kent, May 28 1913, the son of Sir John William Lubbock, 3rd baronet, himself a highly distinguished man of science. John Lubbock was sent to Eton in 1845, but three years later was taken into his father's bank, and at 22 became a partner. In 1865 he succeeded to the baronetcy. His love of science kept pace with his increasing participation in public affairs. He served on commissions upon coinage and other financial questions; and at the same time acted as president of the Entomological Society and of the An thropological Institute.
Early in his career several banking reforms of great importance were due to his initiative, while such works as Prehistoric Times (1865), and The Origin of Civilization (1870), were proceeding from his pen. In 1870, and again in 1874, he was elected a member of parliament for Maidstone. He lost the seat at the election of 1880; but was at once elected member for London University, of which he had been vice-chancellor since 1872. He promoted various measures in Parliament, including the Bank Holidays Act 1871, and bills dealing with absconding debtors, shop hours regulations, public libraries, open spaces, and the preservation of ancient monuments, and he proved himself an indefatigable and influential member of the Unionist party. As a writer of popular scientific books Lord Avebury (he was raised to the peerage in I goo) had few rivals in his day. Many of his books ran into a great number of editions, and served a great educational purpose in arousing an interest in science among many young people who would have been repelled by the ordinary text book.