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 ascending Dates Biography
BONAPARTE-WYSE, L.H. Published several notes on Irish Coleoptera in Irish Naturalist between 1911 and 1916. (MD 10/01)
BOLITHO, Edward Listed in Ent.Ann., 1857 and 1860 as interested in Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. His address is given as Arnold Point, no 3 cottage, Embankment Road, Plymouth. (MD 10/01)
BOLD, Thomas John 26 September 1816 - 5 April 1874

Born at Tanfield Lea, Durham, the eldest son of George Bold, a tradesman. Received his early education at the village school. Following his parents removal to Newbottle he attended the Kepier Grammar School at Houghton-le-Spring, where he remained until his parents moved again to Long Benton. He then went to a school in Newcastle where he subsequently joined the business of Thomas Pattinson, a grocer and seedsman. He stayed with Pattinson until 1867 when the onset of partial paralysis, which affected him for the last seven years of his life, prevented him from taking further part in active labour. Bold died at his residence at Long Benton, following an attack of bronchitis.

As a school boy Bold was of studious habits, and devoted much of his time to reading. Ornithology in particular fascinated him and he contributed a number of articles on this subject to Zool. Entomology, however, eventually took over from this interest. Joseph Wright, writing his obituary in Natural History Transactions of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 8, 1883, 1-14, noted that ‘like most beginners, he started with Lepidoptera but soon turned to the Coleoptera, which henceforth became his special study. He also gave much attention to the Hymenoptera and Hemiptera ... on his entering the service of Mr Pattinson he came to lodge in Newcastle, visiting his parents at Long Benton regularly at each weekend; and sometimes also in the long summer evenings walking out to see them. In these visits he always kept his favourite pursuits before him, and in his walks ... always added something fresh to his collections. These visits to home were always pleasant, for his brothers George and Edwin, though they did not devote themselves to the study of Natural History, yet in their rambles in the neighbourhood, they never forgot him, and on his visits home there was always some fresh insect for him, or some new locality for those already known... The banks of the Tyne, the Teams, and the Derwent, and their neighbourhood afforded him a grand hunting ground. The Ouse Burn was also a favourite spot with him ... on holiday times ... the lake at Gosforth, and Prestwick Car became the scene of his visits. He also... explored the sea coast both northward and southward ... His summer holidays were usually spent with Mr John Addison of Banks House, Lanercost, and made admirable use -of these opportunities in exploring the at that time almost unknown entomology of the banks of the Irthing, in the neighbourhood of Lanercost, Naworth and Gilsland.’

In 1843 Bold joined the Wallis Society founded by James Hardy, another Coleopterist, with whom he became very friendly, Wright noting that 'they contrived to meet once or twice a week, and to compare and examine their captures'. It was this information which subsequently led to their joint publication of the Catalogue of the Insects of Northumberland and Durham, 1846-52. Other friends were Thomas Pigg, also an entomologist, and John Hancock whom he 'occasionally accompanied on his visits to the sea coast'. On the formation of the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club both Bold and Hardy became members, and Bold ‘entered into the work of the Club with characteristic energy’. In particular he was active on the Entomological Committee. He was also a Hon. Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle.

Although Bold published more than seventy articles, etc., on Coleoptera, the Catalogue was undoubtedly his best known work. Wright records a conversation with James Hardy about their working methods in compiling it: ‘the contributions to the Catalogue were pretty equally shared between us.’ Bold apparently provided most of the literary references and ‘with respect to the gathering of the material we seldom interfered with each other’s collecting ground, and I believe never but once worked together in company when we visited Prestwick Car’. Bold apparently confined himself to the southern areas and Hardy took the northern ones. Following the onset of Bold’s paralysis and his inability to get out, he published a revision of the Catalogue which increased its size by almost one third, and was entirely his own work.

Bold’s collection is now in the Hancock Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where it has been amalgamated with those of T.F. Marriner and Gardner in three cabinets and some fifteen store boxes. Although many of the specimens are without documentation, David Sheppard, to whom I am grateful for information about Bold, informs me that most of the Bold specimens can be distinguished. His Journal, to which there are various references by Wright, and some letters, are in the Library of the Northumbrian Natural History Society, of which Bold was at one time Hon. Entomological Curator.

Apart from the obituary by Wright (which includes a complete bibliography) there is another in Ent.mon.Mag., 11, 1874, 20-21. (MD 10/01)

BODKIN, G.E.

Educated at University in Canterbury. Bodkin was at one time Government Economic Biologist in British Guiana, and is credited with having done the first serious work on the Coleoptera of that country since Richard Schomburgh in 1848. He published 'Notes on the Coleoptera of British Guiana' in Ent.mon.Mag., 55, 1919, 210-219; 264-272. FZS. FLS. FES 1912-1921. (MD 10/01)

BODDY, G

Listed in Ent.Ann, 1860, 5, as interested in British Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. His address is given as Bridge Road, Hammersmith, W. (MD 10/01)

BLYTH, S.F.P.

There are specimens bearing this name in the collection of K.C. Lewis. (MD 12/06)

BLUNT, Sidney Herbert Lepidoptera enthusiast who also work on Coleoptera. Lived in Birmingham. FRES from 1957. (MD 3/03)
BLOOM, Harvey

There are specimens bearing this name in the collection of J.F. Fletcher at Worcester Museum (information from Harry and David Green) (MD 1/22)

BLOMER, Charles 1778 or 1779-11 May 1835

Blomer is recorded to have entered the army 6 May 1795 as an Ensign in the 20th Regiment of Foot before joining the 31st in 1802. He was made a Captain in 1807. He served in the Peninsular War and retired on half pay in 1815 when he transferred to the 36th Regiment of Foot. Approximate dates and places of his residence in the UK are: pre 1822, Pembrokeshire; 1822 Ilfracome, then Bideford until 1826; 1826-30 Teignmouth; 1830-34 Clifton, nr Bristol; 1834-35 Carisbrook, Isle of Wight.

Blomer's name was immortalised in Blomer's Rivulet, Discoloxia blomeri, (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). His involvement with Coleoptera is mentioned by Stephens (1828-1831) who described him as ‘my friend’ (I, 60). A list by Blomer of 'Insects captured at Bridgend, Glamorganshire' in Ent.Mag., 1, 1833, 316-17, includes twenty six Coleoptera collected 'from last May to September...in a circle about three miles round this small town'.

Details of Blomer's collection are confused. One account says that his cabinet contained 3,728 specimens, mostly Lepidoptera, but including 746 Coleoptera, but Smith (1986) states that it contained 3215 specimens [no mention of numbers of Coleoptera]. She also states that it was purchased by James Dale for £53.11s.8d and then sold by him in 1839 to the Rev. J. Streatfield for £35, who then presented it to the Margate Literary and Scientific Institution [Philosophical Society?]. This Society became bankrupt in 1866 and the museum contents were auctioned in 1868. The fate of the Blomer collection is not known. An Entomological Journal, 1820-35 [4?] is in the HDO together with a Catalogue of Blomer’s cabinet and sundry notes by J.C. Dale.

FES 1833-35. (I am grateful to David Sheppard for information). (MD 10/01)

BLOMEFIELD, Leonard see JENYNS, Leonard

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