William Blandowski

William Blandowski (21 January 1822-18 December 1878), a zoologist, was born in Gliwice, Upper Silesia, Poland, but then part of Prussia. He was the first scientist appointed to the Victorian museum in 1854.

He was a member and on the council of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria, {forerunner of the Royal Society of Victoria) but became a controversial figure in 1857 when he wrote an article describing and naming some fish species:

"In naming these fishes, he proposed to 'honour' certain members of the council
"by using their names for the specific names of the new species. .... .
"However, for two of these species, named after two very prominent members of
"council, the following descriptions were used:
"
"    Sample N. Slimy, slippery fish. Lives in the mud. Is of a violent bluish
"colour on the belly. The whole upper surface is of a dirty olivish-green 
"colour, with numerous irregular dark patches.
"    Sample B. A fish easily recognized by its low forehead, big belly and
" sharp spine.
" When it is realized that one of the two members of council concerned was the   
"leader of an important religious organization in Melbourne, and the other a
"highly respected physician in the city, it is understandable that a near-riot  
"resulted. The author, refusing to withdraw his paper and description, was
"immediately censured, and his expulsion from the Institute sought. However,
"the necessary two-thirds majority not being obtained, the two Council members
"concerned immediately resigned from all active participation in the"
"Institute."

from 'Science and the making of Victoria' http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/smv/022.html

He returned to Europe in 1859 and complained of his treatment in Australia. He died in Bolesŀawiec (then Bunslau) in 1878.