William John Swainson
William John Swainson | |
---|---|
Quinarian. | |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Ornithology, malacology, conchology, entomology, natural history |
Notable students | Sir Walter Buller |
Author abbrev. (botany) | Swainson |
Notes | |
Emigrated to New Zealand in 1841 |
William John Swainson
Life
Swainson was born in Dover Place, St Mary
, and both grandfather and father held high posts in Her Majesty's Customs, the father becoming Collector at Liverpool.William, whose formal education was curtailed because of an
In 1816, he accompanied the English explorer
Swainson was a member of learned societies, including the
Swainson remarried in 1840 to Ann Grasby, and
Works on natural history
Swainson was at times quite critical of the works of others and, later in life, others in turn became quite critical of him.[citation needed]
Apart from the common and scientific names of many species, it is for the quality of his illustrations that he is best remembered. His friend William Elford Leach, head of zoology at the British Museum, encouraged him to experiment with lithography for his book Zoological Illustrations (1820–23). Swainson became the first illustrator and naturalist to use lithography, which was a relatively cheap means of reproduction and did not require an engraver. He began publishing many illustrated works, mostly serially. Subscribers received and paid for fascicles, small sections of the books, as they came out, so that the cash flow was constant and could be reinvested in the preparation of subsequent parts. As book orders arrived, the monochrome lithographs were hand-coloured, according to colour reference images, known as 'pattern plates', which were produced by Swainson himself. It was his early adoption of this new technology and his natural skill of illustration that in large part led to his fame.[10]
When in March 1822 Leach was forced to resign from the
Classification
In 1819,
'for the great crime of burdening zoology with a false though much laboured theory which has thrown so much confusion into the subject of its classification and philosophical study'.[16][17]
New Zealand estate
In 1839, he became a member of the committee of the New Zealand Company and of the Church of England committee for the appointment of a bishop to New Zealand, bought land in Wellington, and gave up scientific literary work.[5] He married his second wife, Anne Grasby, in 1840.[18] He was apparently the first Fellow of the Royal Society to move to New Zealand.[19] He was later made an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Tasmania.[20][21]
Together with most of his children from his first marriage, they sailed for New Zealand in the Jane,[22] reaching Wellington, in the summer of 1841. The trip was not without incident, as the boat suffered damage en route and was in such a poor state that there was legal action on arrival.[23][24] He purchased 1,100 acres (445 ha) in the Hutt Valley from the New Zealand Company, and established his estate of "Hawkshead". Not coincidentally, this name was shared by an ancestral home in Hawkshead, Lancashire, of the Swainson family, which was the birthplace of Isaac Swainson. After a few months, this estate was claimed by a Māori chief, Taringakuri, which led to years of uncertainty and threat. He was an officer in a militia against in the Māoris in 1846. During these times he was largely dependent on his half pay.
Botanical studies in Australia
In 1851, Swainson sailed to
While having quite some expertise in zoology, his untrained foray into botany was not well received. William Jackson Hooker wrote to Ferdinand von Mueller:
In my life I think I never read such a series of trash and nonsense. There is a man who left this country with the character of a first rate naturalist (though with many eccentricities) and of a very first-rate Natural History artist and he goes to Australia and takes up the subject of Botany, of which he is as ignorant as a goose.[20][21]
Joseph Maiden described Swainson's efforts as
an exhibition of reckless species-making that, as far as I know stands unparalleled in the annals of botanical literature.[20][21]
He had studied the flora of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania before his return to New Zealand in 1854 to live at Fern Grove in the Hutt, where he died the following year.[5]
In 1856, a poem was written by the New Zealand poet William Golder in his memory.[25] His standard botanical abbreviation is Swainson.[26]
Common confusions regarding William Swainson
- William Swainson is frequently credited with having the genus Swainsona named after him, and specifically Sturt's Desert Pea the official floral emblem of South Australia. Although he did botanical work in this region, Swainsona is named after his cousin Isaac Swainson (1746–1812), who never travelled to this region.[citation needed]
Common names of species named after William Swainson
Many birds retain a common name after Swainson, several of which were named by famous naturalists of the period. Many species or subspecies retain his name, although many of his own species were later discredited or merged with others.
- John James Audubon named Swainson's warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii
- Charles Lucien Bonaparte named Swainson's hawk Buteo swainsoni
- Thomas Nuttall named Swainson's thrush Catharus ustulatus
- Swainson's francolinFrancolinus swainsonii
- Swainson's sparrow Passer swainsonii
- Swainson's antcatcher Myrmeciza longipes
- Swainson's fire-eye Pyriglena atra
- Swainson's flycatcher Myiarchus swainsoni
- Swainson's toucan Ramphastos swainsonii
-
Swainson's warbler
-
Swainson's hawk
-
Swainson's thrush
-
Swainson's toucan
Partial bibliography
Many of these works were reprinted, or present in serial publication.
- Swainson, W. 1820. Zoological illustrations, Baldwin, Cradock, & Joy, London.
- Swainson, W. 1824. An inquiry into the natural affinities of the Lanidae or shrikes; preceded by some observations on the present state of ornithology in this country. Zool. J. 1(Art. 42): 289- 307.
- Swainson, W. 1825. The characters and descriptions of several birds belonging to the genus Thamnophilus. Zool. J. 2(Art. 11): 84–93. 1826.
- Swainson, W. 1827. A synopsis of the birds discovered in Mexico by W. Bullock, F. L. S., and H. S., Mr. William Bullock. Philos. Mag. (New Series) 1: 364–369, 433–442
- Swainson, W. 1827. On the tyrant shrikes of America. Q. J. Sci. Lit. Arts. Inst. 20 (Art. 40): 267–285.
- Swainson, W. 1831–1832 on several groups and forms in ornithology, not hitherto defined. Zool. J. 3(Art. 15): 158–175; 343–363.
- Swainson, W., & J. Richardson: 1831. Fauna boreali-Americana: part second, the birds, John Murray, London.
- Swainson W. 1832–1833. Zoological illustrations, Second Ser., Vol. 2. London, Baldwin, Cradrock, and R. Havell.
- Swainson, W. 1832. Zoological illustrations. Second Ser., Vol. 3. London, Baldwin, Cradrock, and R. Havell.
- Swainson, W.: 1834. A preliminary discourse on the study of natural history, Longmans, London.
- Swainson, W., 1835. The elements of modern conchology briefly and plainly stated, for the use of students and travelers. Baldwin and Cracock. London.
- Swainson, W. 1835. A Treatise on the Geography and Classification of Animals. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Greene and Longman, and John Taylor, London.
- Swainson, W. 1835. On the Natural History and Classification of Quadrupeds.
- Swainson, W. 1836. On the natural history and classification of birds. Vol 1. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, London.
- Swainson, W. 1836. On the natural history and classification of birds. Vol 2. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longman, London.
- Swainson W. 1837. The natural history of the birds of Western Africa. Vol. VII of Jardine's Naturalist's Library.
- Swainson W. 1837. The natural history of the birds of Western Africa. Vol. VIII of Jardine's Naturalist's Library.
- Swainson, W. 1838. The natural history and classification of fishes, amphibians, & reptiles, or monocardian animals. A. Spottiswoode, London. Nat. Hist. & Class. i–vi + 1–368
- Swainson, W. 1838. Animals in menageries. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia. London, Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, Longman, and J. Taylor.
- Swainson, W. 1839. The Natural History of Fishes, Amphibians, & Reptiles, or Monocardian Animals. Vol. II. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longmans; and John Taylor. (A. Spottiswoode, printer). 452 pp.
- Swainson, W. 1840. A treatise on malacology; or the natural classification of shells and shellfish. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia. London.
- Swainson, W., Shuckard, W.E. 1840 On the History and Natural Arrangement of Insects. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopedia. Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longmans, London.
- Swainson, W. 1840. Taxidermy with the Biography of Zoologists Longman, London.
- Swainson, W. 1841. Exotic Conchology, Second Edition, Henry G Bohn, London.. 1st edition, 1832.[27]
- Swainson, W. Ornithological Drawings, first edition, 62 hand-coloured lithograph plates, no title or text as issued. 8vo, [1834–36].
Second edition 1841. A Selection of the Birds of Brazil and Mexico with 78 plates Bohn, London - Wallace H, Jameson W., Hooker, R W.J., Swainson, W. 1841. An Encyclopaedia of Geography. Thomas G. Bradford (ed). Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard.
- Swainson, W. 1843. Flycatchers. Ornithology. Volume XIII, Jardine's Naturalist's Library [xvi], t.e.g. Edinburgh: W. H. Lizars.
- Swainson W. Ornithology Birds of Western Africa- Part 1 1862. The Naturalists Library, W Jardine (ed) Vol XI. (A reprint of 1837)
See also
References
- ^ Boulger, George Simonds (1898). Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 55. London: Smith, Elder & Co. . In
- ^ "Biographical Etymology of Marine Organism Names. L". Tmbl.gu.se. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- doi:10.2307/1220844
- ^ a b c d "William Swainson F.R.S, F.L.S., Naturalist and Artist: Diaries 1808–1838: Sicily, Malta, Greece, Italy and Brazil." G .M. Swainson, Palmerston, NZ 1989.
- ^ a b c d "'SWAINSON, William, 1789–1855', In: An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand; edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. "Te Ara – The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand", updated 26 September 2006". Teara.govt.nz. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Some Biogeographers, Evolutionists and Ecologists; Chrono-Biographical Sketches: Swainson, William (UK-New Zealand 1789–1855)". Wku.edu. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Election of William Swainson as a Fellow of the Royal Society". Royalsoc.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Ormsby, Mary Louise. "Edith Stanway Halcombe". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ "Wellington Independent". Vol. XVIII, no. 1960. 22 September 1863. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ a b William Swainson: naturalist, author and illustrator by David M Knight. Archives of Natural History (1986) 13:275–290
- ^ "Obituary. William John Swainson". The Gentleman's Magazine: 532–533. May 1856.
- ^ "Contemporaries and rivals of Audubon". Sc.edu. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ S2CID 170994228. Retrieved 8 October 2013.)
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link - ^ "High Church Science: William Swainson and William Kirby, by DM Knight" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Decimating Birds: Episode II – Namesakes". Microecos.wordpress.com. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Swainson's What?". Chebucto.ns.ca. 19 June 2003. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ D. Knight (1986) Ordering the World: A History of Classifying Man. Burnett Books. London.
- ^ "Biographies of Zoologists". Zoonomen.net. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "See note on correspondence from Cockayne to Halcombe Mrs Blanche Stuart Halcombe, granddaughter of William Swainson" (PDF). Rsnz.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ a b c R.M. Barker & W.R. Barker (1990), 'Botanical Contributions Overlooked...' in 'History of Systematic Botany in Australasia' ed: P.S. Short, ASBS
- ^ a b c "Australian National Botanical Gardens Biography: William Swainson (1789–1855)". Anbg.gov.au. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Life and descendants of William Swainson". Myers.orcon.net.nz. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Passenger Lists into Wellington (Port Nicholson)". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ "Jane 1841 Passenger List". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Stanzas To the Memory of Wm. Swainson, Esq., F.R.S. &c., Departed hence, 7 December 1855. William Golder: The New Zealand Survey (Wellington: J. Stoddard and Co. 1867), pp. 137–43 Archived 9 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "William Swainson at the International Plant Names Index". (IPNI). Retrieved 20 July 2009.
- ^ "Review of Exotic Conchology by W. Swainson". Magazine of Natural History and Journal of Zoology, Botany, Mineralogy, Geology, and Meteorology. 7: 186. 1834.
Further reading
- A very complete set of references of Swainson's life, and his work in malacology and conchology is maintained by The American Malacological Society under their review : 2,400 Years of Malacology (3rd edition)
- Brockie, Bob (2001). "The Decline and Fall of William Swainson". New Zealand Geographic. Vol. 050, no. Mar-Apr 2001. Kowhai Media Ltd. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
- Calhoun, J. (2007). John Abbot's butterfly drawings for William Swainson, including general comments about Abbot's artistic methods and written observations. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 61:1–20.
- Natusch, S. & G. Swainson. (1987). William Swainson, F.R.S., F.L.S. &c: anatomy of a nineteenth-century naturalist. S. Natusch, Wellington, New Zealand. 184pp.
- Morelle, Vivienne (2014) Settlers' clearings. New Zealand History.
- Stephens, Matthew (2013). 'The personal libraries of Ludwig Leichhardt and William Swainson: Two case studies' in The Australian Museum Library: Its formation, function and scientific contribution, 1836-1917, Doctor of Philosophy, University of NSW, School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, pp. 119-234.
External links
- "Portrait of William Swainson c1836 (image)". National Library. 2022.
- Dictionary of National Biography. 1885–1900. (According to the DNB biography, Swainson's first marriage occurred in 1825; the marriage actually occurred on 25 September 1823 at St Mary's, Warwick.) .
- "Photo of his Hutt Valley home in 1840s, Hawkshead". NZETC. 1841.
- "Falcon and poultry at Hawkshead, drawing by William Swainson 1847". NZETC. 1847.
- Works by William John Swainson at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about William John Swainson at Internet Archive