Henry Suter

Henry Suter (born Hans Heinrich Suter, 9 March 1841 – 31 July 1918) was a Swiss-born New Zealand zoologist, naturalist, palaeontologist, and malacologist.

Biography Henry Suter was born on 9 March 1841 in Riesbach, Zurich, Switzerland, and was the son of a prosperous silk-manufacturer of Zurich. He was educated at the local school and university, being trained as an analytical chemist. Suter joined his father's business, and for some years he engaged in various commercial pursuits He married Barbara Julia Ida Naef (Ida) on the 1st of October 1867.

From his boyhood, Henry Suter was deeply interested in natural history. He enjoyed the friendship and help of such men as Dr. Auguste Forel, Professor Paul Godet, the brothers de Saussure (linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, Sinolog and astronomer Léopold de Saussure and René de Saussure Esperantist and scientist), Escher von der Linth, and especially the well-known conchologist, Dr. Albert Mousson.

At this critical time Captain Hutton, always a firm friend to zoologists, succeeded in obtaining for his protégé a post as assistant manager at the Hermitage Hotel, Mount Cook Village. While there, his wife Ida worked in the kitchens, helped by their daughters. Subsequently, work was available at the Canterbury Museum. After that, at one or another of the scientific institutions of New Zealand Suter spent the remainder of his life at congenial employment.

Henry Suter was an expert collector. He excelled in finding the most minute land snails, to find which requires knowledge, patience, and the sharpest eyes. Specialists in other groups were often supplied valuable material by Suter. In Switzerland he had formed a fine collection of European land and fresh-water shells, which was later acquired by the Australian Museum.

His characteristics were patience, perseverance, and concentration, rather than any great breadth of view. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery on 3 August 1918.