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Mary Elizabeth Barber

1818 – 1899

British naturalist, botanist, entomologist, ornithologist, botanical and scientific collector, scientific illustrator, painter and poet

Ornithologist Entomologist Botanist

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About Mary Elizabeth Barber

Lived 1818 – 1899 (aged 81). Mary Elizabeth Barber was a British ornithologist, entomologist, botanist, scientific illustrator, botanical collector and naturalist.

Entomology

Barber developed an interest in entomology while her husband was engaged in the ongoing guerilla warfare between the settlers and native Africans. With her brother, James Henry Bowker, she began documenting African moths and butterflies, and contacted entomologist Roland Trimen (1840–1916) in 1863 to share her discoveries.

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Important facts

Born

5 January 1818, Wiltshire

Birth century

19th century

Died

4 September 1899, Pietermaritzburg

Occupation

Ornithologist, entomologist, botanist, scientific illustrator, botanical collector, naturalist

Nationality

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

Also known as

Mary Elizabeth Bowker, Mary Elizabeth Bowker Barber, Mrs M. E. Barber, M. E. Barber, Mrs Barber, Mrs. F. W. Barber

M. E. B.

People in Mary Elizabeth Barber's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Mary Elizabeth Barber's

Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle

1778 – 1841

Botanist

Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac

Joseph Johann Littrow

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mary Elizabeth Barber?

British naturalist, botanist, entomologist, ornithologist, botanical and scientific collector, scientific illustrator, painter and poet (1818-1899)

When was Mary Elizabeth Barber born?

Mary Elizabeth Barber was born on 5 January 1818 in Wiltshire.

When did Mary Elizabeth Barber die?

Mary Elizabeth Barber died on 4 September 1899 in Pietermaritzburg.

What was Mary Elizabeth Barber's occupation?

Mary Elizabeth Barber was an ornithologist, entomologist, botanist, scientific illustrator, botanical collector and naturalist.

What nationality was Mary Elizabeth Barber?

Mary Elizabeth Barber was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Mary Elizabeth Barber

· Wikidata: Q4937489

· DBpedia: Mary Elizabeth Barber

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mary Elizabeth Barber. https://biography.guide/mary-elizabeth-barber/

MLA: "Mary Elizabeth Barber." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mary-elizabeth-barber/.

Chicago: "Mary Elizabeth Barber." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mary-elizabeth-barber/.

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