Eleanor Glanville facts for kids

Lady Eleanor Glanville (born Goodricke; around 1654 – 1709) was a brave and curious English scientist. She lived in the 1600s and was very interested in insects. She is famous for being an entomologist, which means someone who studies insects. Eleanor Glanville was from a place called Tickenham in Somerset, England.

Who Was Eleanor Glanville?

Eleanor Goodricke was born around 1654. Her parents were William Goodricke and Eleanor Davis Poyntz. She grew up in a time when it was unusual for women to be scientists.

Eleanor married Edmund Ashfield first. After he passed away, she married Richard Glanville. She became very passionate about studying butterflies. This was a hobby that many people at the time did not understand.

A Passion for Butterflies

Lady Glanville loved butterflies, especially. She spent a lot of time collecting different types of butterflies. She would even "beat the hedges" to find caterpillars, which are young worms that turn into butterflies. Many of the butterfly specimens she collected are still kept today. You can find some of them at the Natural History Museum in London. These are some of the oldest butterfly specimens ever collected!

She even discovered a new type of butterfly. It was found in the Lincolnshire Wolds. This butterfly was later named the Glanville Fritillary in her honor. It is one of only two British butterflies named after a British insect scientist.

The Glanville fritillary butterfly was named after Eleanor Glanville.

Challenges and Legacy

Eleanor Glanville continued her insect studies even after separating from her second husband. She wanted to leave her money to people who shared her interests. However, her children did not understand her passion for science. After she died, they tried to say she was not mentally well because of her unusual hobby. This led to a legal fight over her will.

Eleanor Glanville passed away in early 1709. Despite the challenges she faced, her work helped us learn more about butterflies. She showed that women could be important scientists, even in her time.

In Culture

Eleanor Glanville's interesting life has inspired stories. In 2009, a writer named Fiona Mountain wrote a novel about her life.

Images for kids

• 

  Tickenham Court in Tickenham, Somerset

See also

In Spanish: Eleanor Glanville para niños