Learn the story of the mad scientist who devoured the heart of a king

We know that people may have a very peculiar taste, but no one I know comes close to the eating habits of English geologist and paleontologist William Buckland. Having lived between 1784 and 1856 and studied at Oxford University, the scientist cultivated a rather peculiar pastime: eating everything.

That's right! Anything considered edible could very well go into William Buckland's menu. For this reason, some sources point out that he tasted roasted porcupine and pickled ostrich, and even dolphins, dogs, alligators, and panthers had passed his table. But it seems that what the scientist really loved was to taste mice with toast.

William Buckland is now recognized for his contributions to geology and theology, but it is hard not to overlook one of the most bizarre achievements in the history of this mad scientist.

The story goes that on a visit to Lord Harcourt, Archbishop of York, the scientist came across a heart that supposedly belonged to King Louis XIV and was stolen from his grave during the French Revolution. The organ, which was preserved and part of the archbishop's collection, was quickly grabbed by Buckland, who devoured his heart and further commented that even though he had eaten many strange things, it was the first time he had experienced the heart of a king.

Other sources point out that the scientist was merely asked to taste a piece of the heart and eventually swallowed it accidentally. But considering the peculiarities of Buckland's diet, it's not hard to imagine that he would have attacked the delicacy just as he did his beloved mice.

* Originally posted on 11/18/2013.

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