CHILTON, CHARLES (1860-1929) was born in Leominster, Herefordshire, and came to New Zealand with his parents, who took up farming at West Eyreton, Canterbury. He decided on a professional career, and attended the West Christchurch district high school and Canterbury College, where he gained his B.A. degree in 1880, and M.A. in 1881 (with first-class honours in zoology). Working under Professor Hutton, he made a study of the crustacea of the Southern Hemisphere, about which little was known at that time. He taught in Christchurch till 1886, when he was appointed a tutor at the Dunedin Training College. Continuing his studies at Otago University, he gained his B.Sc. in 1887 (the first in New Zealand), and his D.Sc. in 1893. In 1888 he was made rector of the Port Chalmers District High School and in the same year married Elizabeth Jack. Seven years later Chilton began to study medicine at Edinburgh, where he graduated M.B.C.M. with honours (1898). Later at Heidelberg, Vienna and London, he specialised in the eye, ear and throat. Returning to New Zealand he practised in Christchurch for a year, and then filled the chair of biology and palaeontology at Canterbury College (1902-10), and later the chair of biology (1910-28). In 1921 he became rector of the College and on his retirement in 1928 he was created professor emeritus. Chilton was an original fellow, at one time president, and Hector medallist, of the New Zealand Institute; president of the Philosophic Institute of Canterbury (1903-04); he was an original member of the Australasian society, an honorary member of the Royal Society of New South Wales, a fellow of the New Zealand University (1909-18), a member of the North Canterbury education board (1903-05), as well as of the West Christchurch school board, and of the Canterbury Agricultural College board of governors (being chairman in 1927). He was instrumental in establishing the Canterbury College biological station at Cass. His writings include many papers on crustacea, especially subterranean and sub-antarctic forms. His death occurred on 24 Oct 1929.

Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Hight and Candy (p); Trans. N.Z. Inst., Mar 1930 (p); The Press, 25 Oct 1929.

Reference: Volume 1, page 95

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