Lt Col Robert Beresford Seymour Sewell obtained MRCS and LRCP (1907) degrees from University of London, UK and ScD from University of Cambridge, UK. He joined the Indian Medical Service in 1908 and was Surgeon-Naturalist, Marine Survey of India; Officiating Professor of Biology, Calcutta Medical College; Health Officer, Professor of Aden; and Officiating Superintendent and Director, Zoological Survey of India.

Academic and Research Achievements: Seymour Sewell’s contributions cover zoological, geographical, oceanographical, anatomical, medical and anthropological disciplines. The researches he carried out as Surgeon-Naturalist to the Marine Survey of India were considered to be of great value to marine zoology and oceanography. After retirement, he led the John Murray Oceanographical Expedition in the Arabian Sea.

Awards and Honours: Dr Seymour Sewell won many awards, notably CIE (1933), and Barclay Medal by Asiatic Society (1932). He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society, London, and Asiatic Society (President, 1930-32); and President, Zoology Section (1927), Anthropological Section (1929), and General President (1931), Indian Science Congress.