Biographical dictionary

The Biographical Dictionary of British Coleopterists is compiled and maintained by Michael Darby. The Dictionary can be accessed below, and see also the additional information provide by Michael:

Michael would be pleased to hear from anyone wishing to make corrections or alterations to the Dictionary, which will be fully acknowledged. Email Michael Darby or write to Michael at 33 Bedwin Street, SALISBURY, Wiltshire, SP1 3UT.

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Namesort descending Dates Biography
SWINHOE, Ernest A collection of Coleoptera formed by this insect dealer, who lived in Oxford 1894 -1914 and was particularly interested in exotic butterflies, was acquired by Bastian Brothers of Reading in 1898. There is correspondence with Herbert Druce in the RESL (Pedersen (2002) p.63). (MD 11/04, 11/09)
SWYNNERTON, G.H. Gave 194 insects of various orders to the HDO in 1935 (Smith (1986) p.153). (MD 11/04)
SYKES, E. R. 1808 – 1854 Sykes’s collection in two cabinets of 30 and 16 drawers is in the Dorchester Museum. The 16 drawer cabinet also contains 4 drawers of Lepidoptera and is labelled ‘7’ and ‘From E.R.Sykes, Littlemayne, Oct. 1939’. The collection includes material from Tomlin (many specimens); A.Ford (many ) Hamlet Clark and J.C.Melvill (few). (MD 11/04) Sykes is referred to in a ms account of members of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society by R.F.Dalton in the Museum and also in the Proc of the Society, 75, p.32, which I have not seen. (MD 11/04)
SYKES, William Henry 25 January 1790 – 16 June 1872 A Colonel. Published three notes on insects one of which was devoted to the habits of Copris midas in Trans.ESL, 1, 1835, pp.130-32. There is a letter to Hope 1830 and a ms list of Coleoptera from India in the Museum of Col Sykes. 1833 in the HDO (Smith (1986) p.88). (MD 11/04)
SYME, J. Boswell A collection of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera belonging to Syme was sold after his death by Stevens on 20 May 1890 (Chalmers-Hunt (1976) p.123). (MD 11/04)
TAILBY, Trevor William 9 March 1915 – 9 February 1968 Mentioned by Lott (2009) p.28 as a teacher living in Church Langton, formerly Knibworth, in Leicestershire, who had wide ranging interests in natural history including beetles. He incorporated large numbers of museum specimens into his own collection, a practice which Lott believes would have been done with the agreement of the curators at the time. The collection is now in the Leicester Museum (Acc. no. Z245.1968) and is accompanied by his collection notebook. (MD 11/09)
TATUM, T. Published ‘On two new species of Carabus from Asia’ and ‘Descriptions of new species of Coleopterous insects’ in Ann.Mag.Nat.Hist., 20, 1847, pp.14-15 and (2) 8, 1851, pp.49-51. His collection is in the NHM presented by J.C.Bowring (BM 1863-47). It is accompanied by a ms notebook: Catalogue of the Geodephaga Cabinets 1 & 2. FESL 1841-1858 (Council 1846). (MD 12/04)
TAYLOR, A.D. Published ‘Our British Beetles’ in Rep. Proc.Croydon Microscopical Club, 5, 1874, pp.36-39. (MD 12/04)
TAYLOR, A.P. Published ‘Early appearance of the Cockchaffer’ in Nat.Lond., 2, 1876, p.153. (MD 12/04)
TAYLOR, Arthur B. At one time an Assistant Curator in the Belle Vue Museum, Halifax, Yorkshire with a particular interest in Coleoptera. By 1955 he was living in Welwyn Garden City as an artist by profession, and was looking for entomological subjects. FRESL from 1949. (MD 12/04)

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