Biographical dictionary

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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
GARNEYS, William 1831 - 21 October 1881 Born in Bungay, Suffolk the son of a doctor, and after receiving his education in London moved to Repton in Derbyshire. His interest in entomology developed when he was a boy and early centred on the Coleoptera. He published a number of short notes including: 'Note on water fall insects' (EMM., 1, 1864, p.21); 'Cryptocephalus 10-punctatus in Staffordshire'(ibid., 3, 1866, 67); and 'Lathridius filum Abe at Burton on Trent' (ibid., 17, 1881, 260), but his most important work was his 'List of the Coleoptera of Repton and Neighbourhood' in Contributions to the Flora and Fauna of Repton and Neighbourhood, 1873, (2nd edition 1881). This small volume was originally compiled for the guidance of students at Repton School and includes chapters on other insects also contributed in part by Garneys. He alone was responsible for the beetles, however, as he explains in the Introduction. Both Gorham and Janson note in their diaries that Garneys sent them species (Gorham diary, Birmingham Museum; Janson diary, Cambridge). This is presumably the W. Garness, that J.L.Fox records as collecting in the neighbourhood of Harleston and Bungay. John Owen has pointed out to me that Fowler named Anaspis garneysi after him. There are obituaries in EMM., 18, 1881, pp.144,163-164; Ent., 14, 1881, p.302; Zool. Jahr., 1881, p.5; and Zool Anz., 4, 1881, p.676. (MD 1/03)
GARNONS, L.P. A Reverend. His collection of Coleoptera is mentioned in L.Jenyns manuscript volume Entomologia Cantabrigiensis - Mandibulata Part 1 in the Museum at Cambridge. (MD 1/03)
GAYE, J.A. de A member of the African Entomological Research Committee in 1910 when he gave 43 beetles collected in the Seychelles and Southern Nigeria to the NHM. Further gifts followed from 1911/221. Other insects collected by him in Lagos are in the HDO (Smith (1986) p.121.). (MD 1/03)
GAZE, W. Mainly a Lepidopterist but he did publish one note on beetles 'Note on captures of Coleoptera near Sudbury' in Ent., 2, 1844, p.486. (MD 1/03)
GEAN, R. Listed as a subscriber to Denny (1825). He lived at Tentuden in Kent. (MD 1/03)
GEDYE, Alfred Francis John 1903 - March 1963 Born in Bristol. Educated at St. Paul’s School and spent a year at the NHM studying Coleoptera. Migrated to East Africa where he joined a relative in business in Nairobi. During this time he worked consistently in the Coryndon Museum voluntarily on the Coleoptera. specialising particularly in the Cetoniinae and Buprestidae, and where he was appointed a Trustee. His large collection of insects and books was donated to the Coryndon Museum. He sold out of his business about four years before his death and retired to live at Lymington, Hampshire. He had planned to return to Nairobi but died a few days before his departure date. There is a short obituary in Proc.RESL., 28 (C), 1963-64, p.58. FRES from 1919 (MD3/03)
GELDART, E.M. Accompanied Thomas Blackburn and his brother on a beetle collecting expedition to the north of England which was written up in EMM., 1, 1864, pp.145-148. (Perhaps related to W.M.Geldart whose notebook covering the period 1904-12 is in the HDO (Smith (1986) p.76)? (MD 1/03)
GEORGE, R.S.

Atty (1983, vi) records that George lived in Gloucester and 'in the period 1953-63 devoted prodigous efforts to Gloucestershire entomology of most orders, especially fleas and beetles, tracking down original notebooks, lists and collections in various Museums... getting specimens identified by national experts, publishing summaries and collecting in many orders himself. Some of his specimens are in Gloucester Museum and some records are mentioned in Cotteswold Naturalists' Field Club Proceedings, but much of the Coleoptera material was lost soon afterwards' (MD 8/17)
GERRARD, E. jnr. Presumably the son of Edward Gerrard above. There are numerous references to him in the 1894-1900 Acquisitions Volume of the NHM. Since most refer to purchases one concludes that he was a dealer. Most of the material was tropical eg. Celebes (1896/120), Burma (1899/197). (MD 1/03)
GERRARD, Edward There are numerous references to Gerrard in the Acquisitions Register of the NHM 1850-1863. Most acquisitions are recorded as 'insects' and these undoubtedly included Coleoptera; see for example seven beetles fron Ireland 1850/87. Was he on the staff of the Museum perhaps or a dealer? See Gerrard, E. jnr. below. Smith (1986) p.121 records various insects in the HDO including Cetoniidae and other Coleoptera from the Congo purchased in 1891, also ‘various unspecified insects were also purchased between 1881 and 1892’. (MD 1/03)