Edward Donovan

Edward Donovan (1768 – 1 February 1837) was an Anglo-Irish writer, natural history illustrator, and amateur zoologist. He did not travel, but collected, described and illustrated many species based on the collections of other naturalists. His many books were successful in his time. He died penniless in 1837 leaving a large family destitute.

Personal life Almost nothing is known about Donovan's family background, education or early life, although he is known to have been born in Cork, Ireland, and was originally surnamed O'Donovan. He is presumed to have had some independent wealth. His health declined in later years and he died penniless at his home in John Street in 1837 leaving a large family destitute.

Biography Aged 21, he moved to London.

Works Botanical Review, Or the Beauties of Flora. London. 1789–1790. 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. London. F. and C. Rivington. 1792–1813. 16 volumes with a total of 576 plates (568 coloured). The Natural History of British Birds: Or, a Selection of the Most Rare, Beautiful, and Interesting Birds Which Inhabit this Country. London. 1794–1819. 10 volumes with a total of 244 plates. 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. London. F. and C. Rivington, 1802–08. 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. London. 1822–1827. 5 volumes with a total of 180 plates. 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. 5 volumes.1799-1803 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. London. T. Bensley. 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. T. Bensley. 1798. 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. London. 1805. Instructions for Collecting and Preserving Various Subjects of Natural History: As Quadrupeds, 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. London. Rivington. 1805 (2nd edition). Bibliothèque Conchyliologique. Paris. A. Franck.