William Jones (naturalist) facts for kids
William Jones (1745–1818) was an English naturalist and entomologist. He loved studying nature, especially insects.
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Who Was William Jones?
William Jones was a successful wine merchant who lived in London. Even though he worked in business, he had a great passion for natural history. This means he loved to study plants, animals, and the natural world around him.
His Work in Natural History
Because of his strong interest in nature, William Jones became a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London in 1791. This was a very important group for scientists who studied nature. Becoming a Fellow showed that his work and knowledge were highly respected. He passed away in Chelsea, London.
Jones Icones: A Treasure of Butterflies
William Jones is best known for his incredible work called Jones Icones. This collection contains 1,500 beautiful watercolour paintings. Most of these paintings show different kinds of butterflies, and some also show moths.
This amazing collection was never published as a book. Today, it is carefully kept at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
What is in Jones Icones?
The paintings in Jones Icones show specimens from several important collections. These include collections from famous naturalists like Dru Drury, Joseph Banks, and John Francillon. Some paintings also feature specimens from the British Museum and the Linnean Society.
A part of William Jones's own collection was also drawn by an artist named Elisabeth Denyer. She created a special manuscript (a handwritten book) with these illustrations. Later, she gave this manuscript to the British Library, where it is still kept today.
