Born at Aston, Birmingham and educated at King Edward VI school and the Central Technical College graduating in 1936. As an external student at the University of London he did a PhD on the Spider beetles, Ptinidae. Subsequently took up the Anobiidae and, after working for Dunlop during the war, joined the staff of Rentokil Ltd. where he became Scientific Director, a post he held for twenty seven years. Wrote several text books and articles on wood boring insects particularly beetles and termites, and also articles in EMM and elsewhere on other insects, eg.

Often confused with his father Dr John Heysham another well known Cumberland naturalist. Thomas Coulthard was born in Carlisle and devoted the greater part of his life to the study of natural history particularly ornithology, conchology, entomology and botany. He moved to Carlisle where he set up as an ornithological taxidermist. Subsequently he moved to Preston and to Warringtom where he was Curator of the Museum. As an entomologist Heysham was interested in both the Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and other orders.

W.W.Fowler in his obituary of Hey in EMM, mentions that Hey was fond of pointing out how his life might be divided into decades. In 1824 he was sent to school, in 1834 he took his degree, in 1844 he was made Head Master of St. Peter's School, York, in 1854 he was appointed Honorary Canon of York and Vicar of St. Helens, in 1864 he became Canon Residentiary and in 1874 Archdeacon of Cleveland. Fowler also records that Hey 'was an enthusiastic Coleopterist...

Coleoptera bearing this name collected in Surrey in 1878 are in the Hall collection at Oldham Museum (Information from Simon Hayhow). (MD 3/03)

Famous Lepidopterist who is not recorded to have had an interest in Coleoptera though it is worth noting that he published 'Note on the capture of Coleopterous insects during a flood' in Zool, 1, 1843, pp.116-117, and he did present 14 Coleoptera from Quito to the NHM in 1846 (1846/62). (MD 3/03)

Mentioned by Stephens (1828) p.175; Dawson (1854) 24; and J. Morley, Coleoptera of Suffolk, various references. (MD 3/03)

Published 'Capture of Coleoptera on Penmaen Mawr' in Zool., 22, 1864, p.8904. Is this perhaps the same Dr Hewgill that E.C.Rye refers to as taking Stenus species at Burton-on-Trent (EMM, 1, 1864, p.43)? (MD 3/03)

Related to George Heslop-Harrison (see above) and recorded to have shared his interest in Coleoptera. There is correspondence with D.J.Jackson in the RESL (Pedersen (2002) p. 84). Gilbert (1977) lists two obituaries: Ent., 100, 1967, pp. 113-114, and Biogr. Mem. Fellows R. Soc., 14, 1968, pp. 243-270 with a bibliography and portrait. (MD 3/03, 11/09)

Gave 27 Coleoptera and other insects from Fort Churchill, Hudson's Bay to the NHM in 1860 (1860/124). He gave his address as 2 Norway Place, Limehouse. (MD 3/03)