James Francis Stephens

James Francis Stephens (born September 16, 1792 in London , † December 22, 1852 ibid) was an English zoologist .

Stephens was employed from 1807 to 1845 at the " Admiralty " (the Department of Navy) at Somerset House in London. In his spare time he helped zoologist William Elford Leach to set up the British Museum's insect collection . After his retirement, his own insect collection, which also contained many holotypes , was bought by the British Museum.

In 1833 he was a co-founder of the "Entomological Society of London", a predecessor organization of the Royal Entomological Society of London . From 1837 to 1838 he was president there.

Illustration of caddis flies (Trichoptera) from Stephens British Entomology

Works

• Nomenclature of British Insects: Being a Compendious List of Such Species . 1829.
• General Zoology, or systematic natural history . 1800–26: Stephens published the last 6 volumes of this 16-volume work after the death of George Shaw .
• A systematic Catalog of British insects: being an attempt to arrange all the hitherto discovered indigenous insects in accordance with their natural affinities. Containing also the references to every English writer on entomology, and to the principal foreign authors. With all the published British genera to the present time . 1829.
• Illustrations of British Entomology; or, a synopsis of indigenous insects, containing their generic and specific distinctions; with an account of their metamorphoses, times of appearance, localities, food, and economy, as far as practicable. 10 volumes, 1828–1846. Online .
• A Manual of British Beetles . 1839.

Web links

• Short biography at nhm.ac.uk (English)
• Mention in a book review of British entomology by John Curtis (English)