Smith (1986) records the existence of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera from Switzerland and France, and also Oriental insects of many orders, collected by Allen and presented to the Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford by his wife in 1930. (MD 8/17, 9/22)

One of the first British naturalists to have taken a serious interest in beetles. He was born in Somerset and subsequently educated at St. Paul's School and at Queen's College, Cambridge where he took a degree in Medicine (15 April 1688). By 1692 he had established himself as a Doctor at Braintree, Essex and it was there that he met John Ray who subsequently became a life-long friend, and Samuel Dale, the botanist.

Published a note on Acanthocinus aedilis (L) in the Scot. Nat., N.S. 5 (11), 1891, 40 in which he recorded that he had found the specimen 150 fathoms down in a coal pit and that he had subsequently presented it to the RSM. (MD 7.01)

Practised as a Doctor of Medicine in Edinburgh and published Tantamen medicum de cantharidum historia ac usu, Edinburgh, 1769. It is unlikely that he died in 1783 as stated by Horn,W. and Schenkling, S. (1928) who seem to have confused him with William Alexander (1726-1783) the American general who claimed to be the 6th Earl of Stirling. Alexander published a number of works of medical subjects and a History of Women, 1779, in two volumes which was translated into French and German. He was known as William Alexander the Younger. (MD 7.01, 9/22)

Educated at Shene County Grammar School (London SW14), at Reading University (1971-74) and at Royal Holloway College, London University (1975-78). Was employed from May 1979 as an invertebrate zoologist with the Biological Survey Team of the National Trust (based in Cirencester, Glos), latterly becoming Team Leader; since 2003, a freelance ecological consultant. His main interest is in saproxylic invertebrates but he also co-ordinates the Soldier Beetles, Jewel Beetles & Glow-worms Recording Scheme (Provisional Atlas published in 2003).

A carpenter by trade who is known to have lived in Leeds before moving south. He never married. (Information from Peter Hodge).

A collection of some twenty homemade store boxes of beetles formed by him is in the Booth Museum, Brighton, presented by his sister. Locality labels are present but no species names. Some interesting specimens are included such as Dorcatoma dresdensis Herbst. which he took in his home at 24 Montpelier Place, Brighton.

Appears to have become interested in entomology while stationed in India as a Captain in the 8th Madras Light Cavalry. He published two notes in Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, one of which 'Notes on the habits of Indian insects' (1865, 2: 23) concerned the capture of Batocera rubus at Sangor in Central India. (MD 7.01, 9/22)

This name appears on labels in the general collection of Coleoptera in the Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham. Is this, perhaps, the same R. Aldridge who published three notes about Lepidoptera in Entomologist 1870? (MD 7.01, 9/22)

Known primarily for his zoological work in India where he moved in 188I after leaving his post as Assistant Professor of Zoology at Aberdeen. His interest in entomology developed after his appointment as Superintendent of the India Museum, Calcutta, in 1893 in succession to J. Wood-Mason. His main entomological work was on mosquitoes, although beetles collected by him survive there. He left India in 1907 when he was appointed Lecturer in Entomology at the London School of Tropical Medicine. In 1919 he was appointed Professor of Medical Zoology in the University of London. 

See entry above