Biographical dictionary
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANSON, Oliver Erichson | 1850 - 25 November 1925 | Son of Edward Wesley Janson (see above) and shared his passion for the Coleoptera, taking over the family business and involving himself in collecting, research and publication. Janson's early youth was spent at Fortis Green, Middlesex, in the area of which he collected extensively particularly at Finchley, Hampstead and Highgate. In 1906 he travelled to Iceland as a result of which he presented a collection of beetles to the Museum at Reikjavik whose holdings of Coleoptera were thin. On return he became interested in the fauna of Ireland, particularly Co Kerry, making two or three visits during the War and publishing some eight species new to the Irish list. In some of these he collaborated with other entomologists eg. A.H.Haliday and L.H.Bonaparte-Wyse. (There is a list in Ryan et al (1984) pp.69-70). Janson's favourite group was the Cetoniidae on which he became a world authority, publishing many new genera and species in Trans.ESL.,EMM., and AMNH., and the two magazines which he published with his father Cistula Entomologica (1869-1885) and The Journal of Entomology (1862-1866). 'Descriptions of new species of Australian Cetoniidae' in Cist. ent., 1, 1873, pp.133-140, was his first entomological publication. He also published occasional notes on the British fauna to which he added two new species, Stenopelmus rufinasus Gyll., found in the Norfolk fens whilst searching for Bagous binodulus (EMM., 57, 1921, pp.225-26) and Pentaphyllus testaceous, Hellw. Janson's collection of British beetles was acquired by the Cambridge Museum through purchase (£15) from his grandson, who was studying at Cambridge, in 1934. The Museum Register notes that it was housed in a 30 drawer cabinet and that it contained more than 100 species new to the general museum collection, some of which were in long series. It also mentions that it included a large proportion of Irish insects. The Museum also purchased his marked-up check list and an incomplete diary. This last is titled Entomological Journal No 2 New Series from 1864 to [1926] British Coleoptera and contains detailed entries giving place, date of capture, habitats, numbers of specimens taken, etc.. The diary is particularly interesting for the information it contains about the insects which Janson and his father acquired from numerous other coleopterists. Janson's collection was amalgamated into the general collection in 1945 after 100 specimens had been removed to the E.A.Newbery collection. Specimens collected by Janson also exist in Doncaster Museum, Liverpool Museum and the HDO. Of the last, Smith (1986) notes: 'Various insects purchased between 1863 and 1879, including some from north coast of New Holland (1866 £1); Nepal, Upper Amazon, New Holland and Moluccas (1867, 14s 6d) one Lamellicorn, Cyphelytra ochracea Waterh. from Darjeeling (1875, 15s). Van der Poll collection of Carabidae and Orthoptera (purchased by Poulton, 1909, £40) [including specimens from L.A.A.Chevrolat and J.R.H. Neerwort]'. Janson was a member of the ESL from 1869. (MD 8/03) | |
| JANSON, Oliver Jordan | 5 February 1876 – 18 May 1964 | A Lepidopterist rather than a Coleopterist but he had a wide range of knowledge about insects and worked in the family business in Great Russell Street until about 1911 when he set up on his own account until his retirement in the 1940s. For many years he catalogued the insect lots in Stevens’s sale rooms in King Street, Covent Garden. His own insect collections were destroyed by enemy action in 1944 but K.Lewis tells me has specimens in his collection. FRES from 1898. Member SLENHS 1928/29 – 1953/54 (Council 1931-33; Hon Recorder 1929/30-51/52). (MD 8/03) | |
| JANSON, Oliver Jordan | 5 February 1876 – 18 May 1964 | His own insect collections were destroyed by enemy action in 1944 but K.C.Lewis tells me that he has Janson beetles in his collection. | |
| JARMAN, Mr | A Reverend. Mentioned by Dawson (1854) p.159, in connection with Stenolophus dorsalis 'The Rev. Mr Jarman captured it abundantly in May 1853 near the railway bridge that crosses the lode in Holme Fen, Hunts.' (MD 8/03) | ||
| JARVIS, J. | d.1871 | Specimens collected by Jarvis in the New Forest and at Croydon are in the Hall Collection at Oldham (Information from Simon Hayhow). (MD 8/03) | |
| JEBB, A.G. | Published a report on the Coleoptera of the Marlborough District in Report Marlborough College Nat. Hist. Soc., 1896, pp.55-74. Lists species added since a previous publication in 1874. (MD 8/03) | ||
| JEFFERIES, L. | This name appears on specimens in the general collection at Manchester Museum. (MD 8/03) | ||
| JEFFERY, Hugh Geoffrey | 1871 - 20 January 1948 | Published three additions to the list of Coleoptera given by C. Morley in Guide to the Natural History of the Isle of Wight (1909) in Proc. Isle of Wight nat. hist. Soc., 1921, 1927 and 1935. Also wrote 'Lamia textor at Fairlight' with H. Donisthorpe, in ERJV., 10, 1898, p.304. K.G.Blair in a short obituary of Jeffery in EMM., 84, 1948, p.48, wrote: 'this well known Isle of Wight entomologist... was always ready to place his extensive knowledge of the local insects birds and flowers at the disposal of visiting naturalists, though his favourite group was the Coleoptera.' Jeffery also published a list of the Lepidoptera of the Island. (MD 8/03) | |
| JEFFERY, P. | He is listed by James,T.J. (2018) as providing a special contribution either in the form of a comprehensive site list or a substantial number of records (MD 1/22) |
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| JEFFERY, W. | Published 'Dermestes lardarius attacking bird's skins' in Zool, 1 (24), 1866, p.528. (MD 8/03) |