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)
Dates
1831 - 21 October 1881