Edward Donovan

Edward Donovan, nado en Cork en 1768 e finado en 1873, foi un zoólogo afeccionado, viaxeiro e escritor irlandés.

 Traxectoria 

Donovan foi un ávido coleccionista de espécimes de historia natural, adquiridos principalmente en almoedas de mostras de viaxes de exploración. 
miniatura|260px|Ilustración de An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China.
Foi membro da Sociedade Linneana de Londres e da Wernerian Natural History Society, o que lle deu acceso ás mellores coleccións de historia natural e bibliotecas de Londres.

Naquela época era común que os coleccionistas privados abriran pequenos museos públicos e, en 1807 fundou o London Museum and Institute of Natural History. Nel expuxo varios centos de espécimes de aves, mamíferos, réptiles, peixes, moluscos, insectos, corais e outros invertebrados de todo o mundo, así como exeplares de vexetais exóticos e británicos.

As custosas compras que fixera Donovan, o seu trato cos editores sen escrúpulos (segundo el), e a depresión económica de Inglaterra despois das Guerras Napoleónicas, obrigouno a pechar o seu museo en 1817 e a poxar a súa colección en 1818.

Donovan continuou pubricando, pero a súa situación financeira continuou empeorando e, en 1833, fixo unha alegación para solicitar dos seus partidarios apoio para demandar aos editores das súas obras; pero isto foi en van, e Donovan morreu sen un céntimo en 1837 deixando a súa numerosa familia na indixencia.

 Obras principais 

 Botanical review, or the beauties of flora. (1789-1790).
 The Natural History of British Insects. (1792-1813). 16 volumes.O seu títulño completo é The Natural History of British Insects explaining them in their several states, with the periods of their transformations, their food, oeconomy, &c. together with the history of such minute insects as require investigation by the microscope, the whole illustrated by coloured figures, designed and executed from living specimens.
 The Natural History of British Birds. (1802-1808). 10 volumes.O título completop é The Natural History of British Birds; or, a Selection of the most Rare, Beautiful, and Interesting Birds which inhabit this country.
 The Natural History of British Fishes. (1802-1808).O título completo é The Natural History of British Fishes: including scientific and general descriptions of the most interesting species, and an extensive selection of accurately finished coloured plates, taken entirely from original drawings, purposely made from the specimens in a recent state, and for the most part whilst living.
 The Naturalist’s Repository. (1822-1827). 5 volumesO título completo é The Naturalist’s Repository, or Miscellany of Exotic Natural History Exhibiting Rare and Beautiful Specimens of Foreign Birds, Insects, Shells, Quadrupeds, Fish and Marine Productions.
 The Natural History of British Shells. (1804-1809). 5 volumes.O título completo é The Natural History of British Shells, including Figures and Descriptions of all the Species Hitherto Discovered in Great Britain, Systematically Arranged in the Linnean Manner, with Scientific and General Observations on Each".</ref>
 An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of India (1798).O título completo é An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of India, and the islands in the Indian Seas: Comprising upwards to two hundred and fifty figures and descriptions of the most singular and beautiful species, selected chiefly from those recently discovered, and which have not appeared in the works of any preceding author. The figures are accurately drawn, engraved, and coloured, from specimens of the insects; the descriptions are arranged according to the system of Linnaeus; with references to the writings of Fabricius, and other systematic authors. Printed for the Author by T. Bensley, London.
 An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China. (1798).O título completo é An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China. Comprising Figures and Descriptions of Upwards of One Hundred New, Singular, and Beautiful Species; Together with some that are of Importance in Medicine, Domestic Economy, &c London: Printed for the Author, by T. Bensley.
 An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of New Holland. (1805).<ref>O título completo é An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and other islands in the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans: including the figures and descriptions of one hundred and fifty-three species of the more splendid, beautiful, and interesting insects, hitherto discovered in those countries, and which for the most part have not appeared in the works of any preceding author. The figures are correctly delineated from specimens of the insects; and with the descriptions are arranged according to the Linnean system, with reference to the writings of Fabricius and other entomologists".
 Instructions for collecting and preserving various subjects of natural history. Texto completo. (1805)O título completo é Instructions for collecting and preserving various subjects of natural history: as quasrupeds, birds, reptiles, fishes, shells, corals, plants, &c.: together with a treatise on the management of insects in their several states; selected from the best authorities.

 Notas 

 Véxase tamén 

 Bibliografía 
 Gilbert, P. (2000): Butterfly Collectors and Painters. Four centuries of colour plates from The Library Collections of The Natural History Museum, Londres. Singapur, Beaumont Publishing Pte Ltd.
 Jackson, C. E. (1985): Bird Etchings. The Illustrators and Their Books, 1655-1855. Cornell University Press.
 Lisney, A. A. (1960): Bibliography of British Lepidoptera 1608-1799. Londres.
 Musgrave, A. (1932): Bibliography of Australian Entomology 1775 - 1930. Sydney.
 Salmon, M. A. (2000): The Aurelian Legacy. British Butterflies and their Collectors. Martins, Great Horkesley: Harley Books. ISBN 0-946589-40-2.

 Ligazóns externas 
 An epitome of the natural history of the insects of New Holland, New Zealand etc., de Edward Donovan en Google Books.
 Ilustracións de Donovan, en panteek.com.
 Edward Donovan en University of Massachusetts Library.

Categoría:Zoólogos de Irlanda
Categoría:Científicos de Irlanda
Categoría:Escritores en lingua inglesa
Categoría:Nados en 1768
Categoría:Nados en Cork
Categoría:Finados en 1837
Categoría:Ornitólogos de Irlanda