George Herbert Carpenter
Encyclopedia
George Herbert Carpenter (1865–1939) was a British naturalist
and entomologist, born in the Peckham
district of southeast London
in 1865, and died in Belfast
on January 22, 1939. His main interests were in the study of insect
s and arachnid
s, zoogeography
, and economic zoology. In addition to numerous contributions to scientific journals and Encyclopedia Brittanica, he authored five books:
, earning a Bachelor of Science
degree at London University and a Doctor of Science
degree from Queen's University Belfast.
His first employment as a naturalist was as a clerk in the South Kensington Museum, where he pursued an interest in the natural history
of Ireland
. In 1888, he took a position in Dublin, Ireland as Assistant Naturalist at the Museum of Science and Art, Dublin, devoting the next 16 years to developing the museum's collections on the natural history of Ireland.
He was active in the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club and in 1892 he co-founded the Irish Naturalists' Journal
, for which he was editor until his retirement in 1922.
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
and entomologist, born in the Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
district of southeast London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1865, and died in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
on January 22, 1939. His main interests were in the study of insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and arachnid
Arachnid
Arachnids are a class of joint-legged invertebrate animals in the subphylum Chelicerata. All arachnids have eight legs, although in some species the front pair may convert to a sensory function. The term is derived from the Greek words , meaning "spider".Almost all extant arachnids are terrestrial...
s, zoogeography
Zoogeography
Zoogeography is the branch of the science of biogeography that is concerned with the geographic distribution of animal species.-External links:*: A course outline and collection of Web resources by Dr. Taylor, UBC...
, and economic zoology. In addition to numerous contributions to scientific journals and Encyclopedia Brittanica, he authored five books:
- Insects: Their Structure & Life, A Primer of Entomology. London: J. M. Dent, 1899.
- Catalogue of the Fishes of New York (with Tarleton Hoffman BeanTarleton Hoffman BeanTarleton Hoffman Bean was an American ichthyologist, born at Bainbridge, Pennsylvania on 8 October 1846. He died in Albany, New York on 28 December 1916.-FAMILY AND EDUCATION :...
). New York State Museum Bulletin No. 60; Zoology, No. 9. Albany: University of the State of New York, 1903. - The Life-story of Insects. Cambridge: University press, and G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1913.
- Insect Transformation. London: Methuen, 1921.
- The Biology of Insects. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1928.
Education and career
Carpenter was privately educated as a youth, and studied at King's College LondonKing's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, earning a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree at London University and a Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
degree from Queen's University Belfast.
His first employment as a naturalist was as a clerk in the South Kensington Museum, where he pursued an interest in the natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In 1888, he took a position in Dublin, Ireland as Assistant Naturalist at the Museum of Science and Art, Dublin, devoting the next 16 years to developing the museum's collections on the natural history of Ireland.
He was active in the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club and in 1892 he co-founded the Irish Naturalists' Journal
Irish Naturalists' Journal
The Irish Naturalists' Journal covers all aspects of Natural History and has been published since 1925....
, for which he was editor until his retirement in 1922.