William Buckland was no ordinary scientist. A geologist, paleontologist, and minister, his passion for discovery was matched only by his unusual habit-he tried eating every kind of animal to find new food sources.
Why Did Buckland Eat Everything?
Buckland’s goal wasn’t just curiosity or shock value. He wanted to identify all potentially edible foods, especially during times of famine and poverty. He believed that discovering affordable and nutritious protein sources could help people survive when traditional foods were scarce.
Buckland’s Scientific Achievements
- First to describe a dinosaur scientifically.
- Pioneered the study of fossilized feces to understand ancient ecosystems.
- His work influenced major scientists of his time.
His Unusual Eating Habits
Buckland’s meals were far from ordinary. He ate:
- Mice on toast
- Mole, which he found revolting until he tried bluebottle flies, which he considered worse
- Exotic meats like ostrich, crocodile, hedgehog, porpoise, puppies, and even leopard
- On one occasion, he reportedly ate the preserved heart of a French king at a dinner party
- He also licked a cathedral floor stain to prove it was bat urine, not blood
Motivation: Science and Compassion
Buckland’s eccentricity had a purpose. During the Irish potato famine, millions suffered while many in power ignored the crisis. Buckland believed nutrition was key to survival. At Oxford, he tried to improve student diets despite budget limits by testing alternative protein sources on himself first.
He also advocated for better diets for the poor and promoted small-scale farming and fisheries as solutions to hunger.
