Simon Snyder Rathvon

Simon Snyder Rathvon (1812–1891) was an American tailor and entomologist. He specialized in economic and agricultural entomology. Rathvon was from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and studied under naturalist Samuel S. Haldeman. He went on to become Professor of Entomology at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, editor of the agricultural periodical Lancaster Farmer, and contributed to reports published by the United States Department of Agriculture.

In 1832, Rathvon joined the Marietta Thespian Society which helped him boost his self-esteem. Here he met Samuel S. Haldeman, also of his age, who kindled Rathvon's interest in natural history. He was also able to borrow books from others and began to read. The Thespian Society gave him intellectual stimulation and also made him question business and dull routines. Rathvon and Haldeman also established a lyceum of natural history in 1837 which organized a collection of books and specimens. By 1842, entomology had become his primary focus. He published perhaps hundreds of papers on the subject, but the true amount is not known. He was only paid twice for these pursuits—for when he had authored two reports for the USDA in the 1860s.

Legacy Rathvon had a large personal insect collection and purchased the collection of Haldeman. Through this purchase, he also acquired the collections of Nicholas Marcellus Hentz. The Rathvon collection numbered around 10,000 species by 1884. It was later purchased for donation to Franklin and Marshall College. Almost 6,000 of Rathvon's specimens are housed at the North Museum of Nature and Science in Lancaster. The subspecies Nebria gebleri rathvoni was also named in his honor by John Lawrence LeConte.