This is the compiler of this Biographical Dictionary. Born in Northampton the son of Arthur Darby, an electrical engineer, and Ilene, nee Eatwell. Educated at Longrood preparatory and Rugby school, High Wycombe College of Further Education and Reading University (Ph.D., 1974). Apprenticed to Barbara Jones, the artist, 1963. Worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum from 1964 – 1989 (Deputy Director 1983-87). Published many books and articles on art and architecture.
Became interested in beetles as a toddler. First serious collecting was carried out at Rugby where he was an active member of the Natural History Society. Coleoptera Recorder for Wiltshire 1993 - 2017, Editor of Recording Wiltshire’s Biodiversity, which he helped to set up, 1995-2001, and Natural History Editor of Wiltshire Studies 2000-2017. His particular interest is in the Ptiliidae on which he has published many papers in Zootaxa, EMM, and other periodicals and described more than 330 new species mostly from the tropics. His other publications include numerous papers on the Wiltshire fauna in Recording Wiltshire's Biodivesity and Wiltshire Studies, three books: Wiltshire Beetles, History, Status Distribution and use in Site Assessment, Malthouse Books, 2009, New Species and Records of Featherwing Beetles, Lambert Academic Publishing, 2017; and More New Species and Records of Featherwing Beetles, Lambert Academic Publishing, 2020; chapters on Histeroiodea, Ptiliidae, Scydmaenidae, and Pselaphidae in A Coleopterist’s Handbook, 3rd edition, AES 1991, and the chapter on Ptiliidae in Duff, 1983.
Travelled extensively in the northern hemisphere, and this is reflected in his collection which includes some 10,000+ specimens and will be given to the NHM. The majority of these are Ptiliidae which, with a large amount of other smaller material, are kept in alcohol. The remainder is very strong in Wiltshire material and includes the collection of Marlborough College which he has on permanent loan. It is housed in two 40 drawer cabinets (previously the property of the NHM). Specimens taken by him may be found in various collections including the Field Museum, Chicago; the Manchester Museum and the NHM. Agathidium darbyii, which he took in the Philippines, was named after him by Angelini and Cooter. He has concentrated on building up a library of Coleoptera and history of entomology books which is now extensive. There is a biography in Who's Who. He is a Scientific Associate of the NHM, member BENHS since 1969 (Council and now Publications Secretary); FRESL since 1977 (Council 1988-90; Library Committee 1983-90, Acting Librarian 1989); FLS since 2020. (MD 5/02, 4/18, 1/21)