Edward Hawkins (1780-1867), English museum curator and numismatist. Hawkins was born and educated in Macclesfield, Cheshire. He first worked in banks, although his spare time was taken up with the study of botany and history. In 1806 he was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society, and Fellow of the Royal Society in 1821. In 1825 he secured a post at the British Museum as an assistant keeper, a year later he was appointed Keeper of the Department of Antiquities, a post he held until 1860. He was an avid collector of medals and coins, being a founder member of the Numismatic Society of London. On retiring he sold his collection of medals to the Museum and after his death the trustees of his estate sold his collection of 10, 000 satirical prints - both collections still held by the Museum.