William Stephen Atkinson
Encyclopedia
William Stephen Atkinson (September 1820 - 15 January 1876, Rome
) was a British lepidopterist
who worked for much of his life in India
.
William was the eldest son of Rev. Thomas D, Atkinson, of Chesterton, in Suffolk. He became interested in nature at Cannock Chase
, when his father became Vicar of Rugeley
. He started collecting British Lepidoptera. He went to Trinity College, Cambridge
from 1839 and passed out as 26th Wrangler in 1843. He then studied to become a Civil Engineer, but was offered the position of Principal at Martiniere College
and went to Calcutta on November 1854. He was married to Miss Montford daughter of the Vicar of East Winch.
In Calcutta he joined The Asiatic Society and later became its secretary. He became interested in the lepidoptera of Bengal and started breeding moths and communicated Mr Stainton. In 1857 he became a Member of the Entomological Society. In 1860 he became Directory of Public Instruction in Bengal and made visits to Darjeeling where he made extensive collections. He made trips to Sikkim
with Dr Thomas Anderson of the Calcutta Botanic Garden. In 1865 he became a Trustee of the New Indian Museum. He was in correspondence with Frederic Moore
.
Atkinson lived for many years in Calcutta collecting and painting specimens. His collection was purchased on his death by William Chapman Hewitson
and deposited with the Natural History Museum
in London
. Frederic Moore
(1830-1907) described and published many of the new species collected by him.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
) was a British lepidopterist
Lepidopterist
A lepidopterist is a person who specialises in the study of Lepidoptera, members of an order encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
who worked for much of his life in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
William was the eldest son of Rev. Thomas D, Atkinson, of Chesterton, in Suffolk. He became interested in nature at Cannock Chase
Cannock Chase
Cannock Chase is a mixed area of countryside in the county of Staffordshire, England. The area has been designated as the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Chase gives its name to the Cannock Chase local government district....
, when his father became Vicar of Rugeley
Rugeley
Rugeley is a historic market town in the county of Staffordshire, England. It lies on the northern edge of Cannock Chase, and is situated roughly midway between the towns of Stafford, Cannock, Lichfield and Uttoxeter...
. He started collecting British Lepidoptera. He went to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
from 1839 and passed out as 26th Wrangler in 1843. He then studied to become a Civil Engineer, but was offered the position of Principal at Martiniere College
La Martiniere Calcutta
La Martiniere Calcutta comprises two separate private schools in Kolkata, India. The schools were established in accordance with the will of Major General Claude Martin in 1836. They are day schools although they both have a small number of boarders...
and went to Calcutta on November 1854. He was married to Miss Montford daughter of the Vicar of East Winch.
In Calcutta he joined The Asiatic Society and later became its secretary. He became interested in the lepidoptera of Bengal and started breeding moths and communicated Mr Stainton. In 1857 he became a Member of the Entomological Society. In 1860 he became Directory of Public Instruction in Bengal and made visits to Darjeeling where he made extensive collections. He made trips to Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
with Dr Thomas Anderson of the Calcutta Botanic Garden. In 1865 he became a Trustee of the New Indian Museum. He was in correspondence with Frederic Moore
Frederic Moore
Frederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
.
Atkinson lived for many years in Calcutta collecting and painting specimens. His collection was purchased on his death by William Chapman Hewitson
William Chapman Hewitson
William Chapman Hewitson was a British naturalist, born on 9 January 1806 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and died on 28 May 1878. A wealthy collector, this naturalist was particularly devoted to the Coleoptera and the Lepidoptera and, also, to bird's nests and eggs...
and deposited with the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in 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...
. Frederic Moore
Frederic Moore
Frederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
(1830-1907) described and published many of the new species collected by him.