Sarah Bowdich Lee
Encyclopedia
Sarah Bowdich Lee (Sept. 10, 1791 - Sept. 22, 1856) was an English author, illustrator, traveller, zoologist, botanist, and pteridologist.
In 1813 Sara Wallis married Thomas Edward Bowdich
, the naturalist. She shared her husband's interests in nature, travel, and adventure. In 1819 they went to Paris to visit Baron Cuvier; Thomas had already visited him in 1818 with a letter of introduction obtained from Dr. William Elford Leach
of the British Museum. Cuvier received the two with great warmth and hospitality, and they spent most of the next four years in Paris studying his collections. In 1823 on their final trip to Africa, they visited Madeira
on their way, but her husband died on the Gambia river on 10th January 1824. Left with three children she struggled to support her family as an author. In the early part of her widowhood Sarah Bowdich often visited Baron Cuvier in Paris, where he treated her almost like a daughter; upon his death in 1832 she wrote a memoir of his life. In 1826 she married Robert Lee and in subsequent years published under the name "Mrs. Robert Lee." Of her numerous works perhaps the four most important are: Taxidermy, 1820, an exhaustive treatment which came to a sixth edition in 1843; Excursions in Madeira and Porto Santo, 1825, an excellent work of natural history; The Fresh-Water Fishes of Great Britain, 1825, superbly illustrated by the author; and Memoirs of Baron Cuvier, 1833. In 1854 she was granted a civil list pension of £50 per year. In 1856 she died at Erith while visiting her daughter Eugenia.
In 1813 Sara Wallis married Thomas Edward Bowdich
Thomas Edward Bowdich
Thomas Edward Bowdich was an English traveller and author.He was born at Bristol and educated at Bristol Grammar School. In 1813 he married Sarah Wallis, who shared his subsequent career. In 1814, through his uncle, J...
, the naturalist. She shared her husband's interests in nature, travel, and adventure. In 1819 they went to Paris to visit Baron Cuvier; Thomas had already visited him in 1818 with a letter of introduction obtained from Dr. William Elford Leach
William Elford Leach
William Elford Leach FRS was an English zoologist and marine biologist.Leach was born at Hoe Gate, Plymouth, the son of a solicitor. At the age of twelve he went to school in Exeter, studying anatomy and chemistry. By this time he was already collecting marine samples from Plymouth Sound and along...
of the British Museum. Cuvier received the two with great warmth and hospitality, and they spent most of the next four years in Paris studying his collections. In 1823 on their final trip to Africa, they visited Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
on their way, but her husband died on the Gambia river on 10th January 1824. Left with three children she struggled to support her family as an author. In the early part of her widowhood Sarah Bowdich often visited Baron Cuvier in Paris, where he treated her almost like a daughter; upon his death in 1832 she wrote a memoir of his life. In 1826 she married Robert Lee and in subsequent years published under the name "Mrs. Robert Lee." Of her numerous works perhaps the four most important are: Taxidermy, 1820, an exhaustive treatment which came to a sixth edition in 1843; Excursions in Madeira and Porto Santo, 1825, an excellent work of natural history; The Fresh-Water Fishes of Great Britain, 1825, superbly illustrated by the author; and Memoirs of Baron Cuvier, 1833. In 1854 she was granted a civil list pension of £50 per year. In 1856 she died at Erith while visiting her daughter Eugenia.
Selected publications
- 1844. Elements of Natural History, for the use of schools and young persons: comprising the principles of classification, interspersed with ... account of the most remarkable animals ... Illustrated
- 1850. Elements of Natural History, for the use of schools and young persons: comprising the principles of classification, interspersed with ... account of the most remarkable animals ... Illustrated
- 1851. Adventures in Australia: or, the Wanderings of Captain Spencer in the bush and the wilds ... With illustrations by J.S. ProutJohn Skinner ProutJohn Skinner Prout was born in Plymouth, England, nephew of the famous English watercolourist Samuel Prout.Prout emigrated to Sydney in 1840, accompanied by his wife and their seven children, Prout hoping to pursue a career in Australia as a professional artist and printer...
. xi, [1], 364 pp., 18 pl. - 1852a. British Birds, with descriptions by Mrs. R. Lee ... and seven pictures from drawings by Harrison WeirHarrison WeirHarrison William Weir , known as "The Father of the Cat Fancy", was an English gentleman and artist.He organized the first cat show in England, at The Crystal Palace, London, in July 1871. He and his brother, John Jenner Weir, both served as judges in the show...
- 1852b The Farm and its Scenes, with descriptions by Mrs. R. Lee ... and six pictures from drawings by Harrison Weir
- 1853a. Foreign Animals, with descriptions by Mrs. R. Lee ... and seven pictures from drawings by Harrison Weir
- 1853b. Anecdotes of the Habits and Instincts of Birds, Reptiles, and Fishes ... With illustrations by Harrison Weir
- 1853c. Familiar Natural History, with descriptions by Mrs. R. Lee ... and ... illustrations from drawings by Harrison Weir
- 1854. Trees, Plants, and Flowers: their beauties, uses, and influences ... The illustrations ... by James AndrewsJames Andrews (botanical artist)James Andrews was an English botanical artist noted for his accomplished illustrations. He also taught flower-painting to young ladies.He created the illustrations for the famous nature writer Sarah Bowdich Lee's 1854 book Trees, Plants, and Flowers: Therir Beauties, Uses, and Influences.-...
- 1867. The African wanderers ... Fourth edition
- Foreign Birds, with descriptions by Mrs. R. Lee ... and seven pictures from drawings by Harrison Weir
- Taxidermy: or, the art of collecting, preparing, and mounting objects of natural history
- British Animals, with descriptions by Mrs. R. Lee ... and seven pictures from drawings by Harrison WeirHarrison WeirHarrison William Weir , known as "The Father of the Cat Fancy", was an English gentleman and artist.He organized the first cat show in England, at The Crystal Palace, London, in July 1871. He and his brother, John Jenner Weir, both served as judges in the show...
External links
- Memoirs of Baron Cuvier by Mrs. R. Lee, 1833, (London: Longman)