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William Chapman Hewitson

1806 – 1878

British naturalist

Naturalist LepidopteristIllustrator
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About William Chapman Hewitson

Lived 1806 – 1878 (aged 72). William Chapman Hewitson was a British naturalist, lepidopterist, illustrator and ornithologist.

William Chapman Hewitson (9 January 1806, in Newcastle upon Tyne – 28 May 1878, in Oatlands Park, Surrey) was a British naturalist. A wealthy collector, Hewitson was particularly devoted to Coleoptera (beetles) and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) and, also, to birds' nests and eggs. His collection of butterflies, collected by him as well as purchased from travellers throughout the world, was one of the largest and most important of his time. He contributed to and published many works on entomology and ornithology and was an accomplished scientific illustrator.

Life William Hewitson was educated in York. a member of the Entomological Society of London in 1846, the Zoological Society in 1859, and the Linnean Society in 1862.

People associated with Hewitson Jean Baptiste Boisduval Baron Cajetan von Felder John Edward Gray William Wilson Saunders Alfred Russel Wallace

Works

(1831). British Oology: Being Illustrations of the Eggs of British Birds, With Figures of Each Species, As Far As Practicable, Drawn and Coloured from Nature: Accompanied by Descriptions of the Materials and Situation of Their Nests, Number of Eggs, &c. Published for the author, by Charles Empson, Newcastle upon Tyne. (1851, 1862–1871, 1878). Illustrations of New Species of Exotic Butterflies, Selected Chiefly from the Collections of W. Wilson Saunders and William C. Hewitson. Five volumes. London: John Van Voorst. Hewitson paid for the last volume when the trustees of the British Museum refused. (1862–1878). Illustrations of Diurnal Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae. London: John Van Voorst. Volume 1 Text Volume 2 plates. (1862). Specimen of a Catalogue of Lycaenidae in the British Museum by W.C. Hewitson. London: Printed by order of the Trustees (1867–1868). Descriptions of One Hundred New Species of Hesperidae. London: John Van Voorst with Frederic Moore (1879–1888). Descriptions of New Indian Lepidopterous Insects: From the Collection of the Late Mr. W.S. Atkinson, M.A., F.L.S., &c. Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal.

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Important facts

Birth century
Awards
Fellow of the Linnean Society of London
Also known as
Hewitson, W. C. Hewitson

People in William Chapman Hewitson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Chapman Hewitson's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Chapman Hewitson?

British naturalist (1806–1878)

When was William Chapman Hewitson born?

William Chapman Hewitson was born on 9 January 1806 in Newcastle upon Tyne.

When did William Chapman Hewitson die?

William Chapman Hewitson died on 28 May 1878.

What was William Chapman Hewitson's occupation?

William Chapman Hewitson was a naturalist, lepidopterist, illustrator and ornithologist.

What nationality was William Chapman Hewitson?

William Chapman Hewitson was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Chapman Hewitson

· Wikidata: Q2380448

· DBpedia: William Chapman Hewitson

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Chapman Hewitson. https://biography.guide/william-chapman-hewitson/

MLA: "William Chapman Hewitson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-chapman-hewitson/.

Chicago: "William Chapman Hewitson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-chapman-hewitson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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