Sylvanus Charles Thorp Hanley
Encyclopedia
Sylvanus Charles Thorp Hanley (1819–1899) was a British
conchologist and malacologist who published the first book on shells using the then new technique of photographs. He authored Conchologia indica with William Theobald
which was a treatise on the shells of British India. The plates were drawn and lithographed
by George Brettingham Sowerby the younger, who was well-known for writing and illustrating excellent works of natural history, especially conchological works. Sowerby became the best illustrator of conchological works of his time, illustrating such classics as Reeve's monumental twenty-volume Conchologia Iconica.
Sylvanus Hanley inherited a fortune, which enabled him to devote a lifetime to conchology. He was especially interested in the bivalves
, on which he was a leading authority. He published over 40 books and scientific papers, and described over 200 new species. Hanley collected molluscs
extensively; most of his collections are today held at Leeds City Museum
in Yorkshire
, England.
Hanley collected over a period of 60 years, and corresponded frequently with many other naturalists of his time. He acquired several specimens of Unio
, now extinct, for Isaac Lea
. Several syntype
s were collected by him for other leading contemporary biologists, including Arthur Adams
, W.H. Dall, Henry B. Guppy
, Richard Brinsley Hinds, Jeffries
, Leath, Sven Ludvig Lovén
, George Montagu, William Harper Pease
, Rodolfo Amando Philippi
and Tryon Reakirt
.
The Hanley Collections, as it is called, forms one of the largest collections in Leeds City Museum, occupying 13 cabinets and 206 drawers.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
conchologist and malacologist who published the first book on shells using the then new technique of photographs. He authored Conchologia indica with William Theobald
William Theobald
William Theobald was a malacologist and naturalist on the staff of the Geological Survey of India in Burma. That organization then covered Burma, as it was at the time still a part of British India....
which was a treatise on the shells of British India. The plates were drawn and lithographed
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
by George Brettingham Sowerby the younger, who was well-known for writing and illustrating excellent works of natural history, especially conchological works. Sowerby became the best illustrator of conchological works of his time, illustrating such classics as Reeve's monumental twenty-volume Conchologia Iconica.
Sylvanus Hanley inherited a fortune, which enabled him to devote a lifetime to conchology. He was especially interested in the bivalves
Bivalvia
Bivalvia is a taxonomic class of marine and freshwater molluscs. This class includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, and many other families of molluscs that have two hinged shells...
, on which he was a leading authority. He published over 40 books and scientific papers, and described over 200 new species. Hanley collected molluscs
Mollusca
The Mollusca , common name molluscs or mollusksSpelled mollusks in the USA, see reasons given in Rosenberg's ; for the spelling mollusc see the reasons given by , is a large phylum of invertebrate animals. There are around 85,000 recognized extant species of molluscs. Mollusca is the largest...
extensively; most of his collections are today held at Leeds City Museum
Leeds City Museum
Leeds City Museum, originally established in 1819, re-opened on 13 September 2008 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is housed in the former Mechanics' Institute built by Cuthbert Brodrick, in Millennium Square, which has been redeveloped to a design by Austin-Smith:Lord architects and Buro...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England.
Hanley collected over a period of 60 years, and corresponded frequently with many other naturalists of his time. He acquired several specimens of Unio
Unio (genus)
Unio is a genus of medium-sized freshwater mussels, aquatic bivalve mollusks in the family Unionidae, the river mussels.Unio is the type genus of the family Unionidae.-Species:Species in the genus Unio include:* Unio cariei - extinct...
, now extinct, for Isaac Lea
Isaac Lea
Isaac Lea was an American conchologist, geologist, and businessman, who was born in Wilmington, Delaware.-Life:...
. Several syntype
Syntype
In biological nomenclature, a syntype is a term used to indicate a specimen with a special status.In zoological nomenclature, a syntype is defined as "Each specimen of a type series from which neither a holotype nor a lectotype has been designated [Arts. 72.1.2, 73.2, 74]. The syntypes...
s were collected by him for other leading contemporary biologists, including Arthur Adams
Arthur Adams (zoologist)
Arthur Adams was an English physician and naturalist.Adams was assistant surgeon on board H.M.S. "Actaeon" in company with HMS Samarang in the British Navy during the survey of the Malay Archipelago, the Japan Sea, Korea and China,from 1843 to 1846. He edited the Zoology of the voyage of H.M.S....
, W.H. Dall, Henry B. Guppy
Henry B. Guppy
Henry Brougham Guppy FRS was a British botanist. He was awarded the Linnean Medal.-Other writings :*1887: The Solomon Islands and Their Natives. London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co...
, Richard Brinsley Hinds, Jeffries
Jeffries
Jeffries is a surname and may refer to :* Adam Jeffries , American actor* Ben Jeffries , Australian rugby league footballer* Bill Jeffries , former New Zealand politician* Chris Jeffries Jeffries is a surname and may refer to :* Adam Jeffries (b. 1974), American actor* Ben Jeffries (b. 1980),...
, Leath, Sven Ludvig Lovén
Sven Ludvig Lovén
Sven Ludvig Lovén , was a Swedish marine zoologist and malacologist.- External links : http://www.nrm.se/forskningochsamlingar/djur/evertebratzoologi/historia/svenloven.4.4e32c8104f585693780005427.html* at Internet Archive...
, George Montagu, William Harper Pease
William Harper Pease
William Harper Pease was a 19th-century American conchologist, shell collector and malacologist. He described many species of Indo-Pacific marine mollusks from the Cumming collection....
, Rodolfo Amando Philippi
Rodolfo Amando Philippi
Rodolfo Amando Philippi was a German-Chilean paleontologist and zoologist....
and Tryon Reakirt
Tryon Reakirt
Tryon Reakirt was an American entomologist.He was interested in the Lepidoptera of the Americas and the Philippines and published nine articles in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia and a tenth in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the...
.
The Hanley Collections, as it is called, forms one of the largest collections in Leeds City Museum, occupying 13 cabinets and 206 drawers.
External links
- works by Sylvanus Charles Thorp Hanley at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...