Thomas Penny facts for kids
Thomas Penny (born 1532 – died January 1589) was an English physician, which means he was a doctor. He was also one of the first people to study entomology, which is the science of insects.
Most of his own writings are lost today. We know about him mainly from what other scientists of his time wrote. Thomas Penny had new ideas about how to group caterpillars, which were different from the old ideas of Aristotle. He was also a Puritan, a type of Christian, and he stayed out of public view when Queen Mary I of England was in charge.
He is perhaps best known for helping to write a very important book called Insectorum, sive, Minimorum animalium theatrum, which means Theatre of Insects. This book was put together by several scientists: Conrad Gessner, Edward Wotton, Thomas Muffet, and Thomas Penny himself.
Contents
About Thomas Penny
Thomas Penny was born in 1532. He lived during a time when science was just starting to explore the natural world in new ways. As a doctor, he was interested in how the human body worked, but his real passion was insects.
His Work with Insects
Thomas Penny was one of the first people to study insects very closely. He observed them and tried to understand their different types. His ideas about classifying caterpillars were quite new for his time. He didn't just follow the old ways of thinking.
He spent many years collecting information and drawings of insects. This work was very important for the Theatre of Insects book. Even though he didn't finish the book himself, his notes and discoveries were used by others to complete it after he passed away.
The Theatre of Insects Book
The Theatre of Insects was a huge book about all kinds of small creatures. It was one of the first big books to focus only on insects. It included detailed descriptions and drawings. This book helped other scientists learn more about insects and inspired them to study these tiny animals.
Thomas Penny's part in this book showed how much he knew about insects. It was a big step forward for the study of entomology.
His Family Life
Thomas Penny was the son of John Penny from a place called Eskrigg in Lancashire, England. He had a younger brother named Brian Penny. Brian worked for Edmund Scambler, who was a bishop.
Thomas also had two sisters, Anne and Maud. Anne married Rowland Atkinson, and Maud married William Dickenson.
Thomas Penny married Margaret Lucas. She was the daughter of John Lucas. Margaret passed away in November 1587. Thomas Penny made his will in June 1588, and he named his brother Brian as the person to handle his affairs.
Health and Remedies
Thomas Penny suffered from asthma, a condition that makes it hard to breathe. Interestingly, he tried to treat his asthma by crushing woodlice and mixing them with wine to drink. This was a common type of remedy in his time, even if it sounds strange to us today!
