Biographical dictionary | UK Beetle Recording

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

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Name Dates Biography

BLOMER, Charles

1778 or 1779-11 May 1835

Name	Dates	Biography
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)

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)