James Francis Stephens

James Francis Stephens (September 16, 1792 - December 22, 1852) was an English entomologist.

Biography

Stephens was born in Shoreham-by-Sea and studied at Christ's Hospital. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26385 Stephens, James Francis (1792-1852), entomologist] by Yolanda Foote in Dictionary of National Biography online (accessed 22 July 2008)] He was employed in the Admiralty office, Somerset House, from 1807 to 1845. In his spare time he assisted William Elford Leach in arranging the insect collection at the British Museum (In 1818 he was seconded to the British Museum, and on completion of his work returned to the Admiralty).He made a large insect collection, which contains many type specimens. After his retirement this collection was purchased by the British Museum.

In 1833, he was a founder of what became the Royal Entomological Society of London.

Works

Stephens was the author of

* "Nomenclature of British Insects: Being a Compendious List of Such Species" (1829).
* The last six volumes of "General Zoology, or systematic natural history" (1800-26) (16 volumes) after the death of George Shaw.

* "A systematic Catalogue of British insects: being an attempt to arrange all the hitherto discovered indigenous insects in accordance with their natural affinities. Containing also the references to every English writer on entomology, and to the principal foreign authors. With all the published British genera to the present time"(1829.)
*"Illustrations of British Entomology; or, a synopsis of indigenous insects, containing their generic and specific distinctions; with an account of their metamorphoses, times of appearance, localities, food, and economy, as far as practicable.In ten volumes". (1828-1846). Click for pdf: [http://www.toyen.uio.no/entomology/gusarov/Library/Stephens.htm] This work consists of 7 volumes of Mandibulata, 4 volumes of Haustellata, and 1 supplementary volume. The plates are coloured by hand, after drawings by C.M. Curtis and John Obadiah Westwood

Dispute with Curtis

Stephen’s "Illustrations of British Entomology", often entitled simply "British Entomology" was in immediate competition with John Curtis’ "British Entomology" (1824-1839). This gave rise to an acrimonious dispute which split the British entomological establishment into opposing factions for over thirty years. They were never reconciled despite Stephen’s close friend John Obadiah Westwood’s attempt to heal the rift.

References