William Spence (entomologist) facts for kids
William Spence (born around 1783 – died January 6, 1860) was a British expert in two very different fields: economics and insects. He is best known for his important work on insects and for writing the first popular book about them in English.
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Early Life and Family
William Spence was born in a village called Bishop Burton in East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He was the oldest of four children. His father, Robert Spence, was a farmer. Not much is known about William's very early life. However, when he was ten years old, a clergyman looked after him and taught him about plants.
In 1804, William married Elizabeth Blundell in Hull. He quickly helped his wife's brother, Henry, start a very successful company called Blundell Spence. This company sold oil and colours. William Spence was also the father of William Blundell Spence, who became a well-known artist and art dealer.
A Love for Insects
William Spence became very interested in entomology (the study of insects) when he was 22 years old. He immediately started writing letters to William Kirby, who was a leading expert on insects at the time.
Together, Spence and Kirby wrote a famous book called Introduction to Entomology. This book was published in four parts between 1815 and 1826. It was the first popular book about insects written in English, making the topic exciting and understandable for many people. William Spence also wrote about 20 shorter articles on insects.
Contributions to Economics
Besides his work with insects, William Spence also wrote about economics. In 1822, he published a book called Tracts on Political Economy. This book included several of his earlier writings on economic ideas. He discussed topics like how Britain could be strong without relying too much on trade, and how farming was a key source of wealth.
Important Societies and Recognition
In 1833, William Spence was one of the people who helped start the Society of Entomologists of London. This society was created for people who studied insects. He later became the president of this society in 1847. At the same time, his friend and co-author, William Kirby, was made an Honorary Life President. Spence himself was named an 'Honorary English Member'.
In April 1834, William Spence was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
Legacy
William Spence was also the first editor of a newspaper in Hull called the Hull Rockingham. Today, there is a special statue of him, called a bust, in the Hull museum. This bust was created by the artist Marochetti.
