Benjamin Preston Clark (October 8, 1860, in West Roxbury – January 11, 1939, in Philadelphia), known to friends as "Preston", was an American entomologist who specialized in Lepidoptera, especially Sphingidae.[1][2][3] He also operated a mercantile business and patented a new form of twine for binding grain.[4]
Clark was the direct descendant of Captain Joseph Weld (1599–1646), a progenitor of the wealthy Weld family of Boston. He grew up on the Weld Farm, a plot of 278 acres (1.13 km2) in Roxbury that was granted to his ancestor by the colonial legislature for "bravery fighting the Indians" during the Pequot War in 1637.[5]
He attended Amherst College from 1877 to 1881, where he developed a passion for the natural sciences. However, the failure of his father's mercantile firm (B. C. Clark & Co.) in 1881 forced him to set aside his plans of a career in academia, and to enter the business world.[5] On 21 January 1890 he married Josephine Frances Allen, who was also a herbarium specimen collector.[5][6]
Entomology
Clark wrote in 1922 that his interest in Sphingidae began in childhood: "...as a boy I used to see poised with whirring wings over the phlox garden at Weld Farm, and which always had for me a peculiar fascination."[5] His large collection of more than 7,200 specimens was acquired through international correspondence with more than 500 collectors. It included representatives of more than 1300 species. The collection, which included the type specimens of 232 species described by Clark,[3][1][2] was donated in its entirety to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History after his death.[5]
Additional Sources
Rahn, R. A. (1997). "[Clark, B. P.]". News Lep. Soc.39 (4): 73, 89.
Rehn, J. A. G. (1939). "[Clark, B. P.]". Ent. News50: 90.
Sachtleben, H. (1939). "[Clark, B. P.]". Arb. morph. taxon. Ent. Berlin-Dahlem6: 209.
References
^ abClark, Benjamin Preston (1916). "New American Sphingidae". Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club. 6: 39–50.
^ abClark, Benjamin Preston (1936). "Descriptions of twenty-four new Sphingidae and notes concerning two others". Proceedings of the New Zealand Zoological Club. 15: 71–91.
^ abClark, Benjamin Preston (1923). "Twenty-five New Sphingidae". Proceedings of the New England Zoölogical Club. 8: 1–23.
^Patent US416052, United States Patent Office. November 26, 1889.
^ abcdeClark, Josephine F. (1947). Benjamin Preston Clark. Boston, Massachusetts: Thomas Todd Company.
^"Clark, Jospehine F." kiki.huh.harvard.edu. 2021. from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
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benjamin, preston, clark, october, 1860, west, roxbury, january, 1939, philadelphia, known, friends, preston, american, entomologist, specialized, lepidoptera, especially, sphingidae, also, operated, mercantile, business, patented, form, twine, binding, grain,. Benjamin Preston Clark October 8 1860 in West Roxbury January 11 1939 in Philadelphia known to friends as Preston was an American entomologist who specialized in Lepidoptera especially Sphingidae 1 2 3 He also operated a mercantile business and patented a new form of twine for binding grain 4 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Entomology 1 3 Additional Sources 2 ReferencesBiography EditEarly life and education Edit Clark was the direct descendant of Captain Joseph Weld 1599 1646 a progenitor of the wealthy Weld family of Boston He grew up on the Weld Farm a plot of 278 acres 1 13 km2 in Roxbury that was granted to his ancestor by the colonial legislature for bravery fighting the Indians during the Pequot War in 1637 5 He attended Amherst College from 1877 to 1881 where he developed a passion for the natural sciences However the failure of his father s mercantile firm B C Clark amp Co in 1881 forced him to set aside his plans of a career in academia and to enter the business world 5 On 21 January 1890 he married Josephine Frances Allen who was also a herbarium specimen collector 5 6 Entomology Edit Clark wrote in 1922 that his interest in Sphingidae began in childhood as a boy I used to see poised with whirring wings over the phlox garden at Weld Farm and which always had for me a peculiar fascination 5 His large collection of more than 7 200 specimens was acquired through international correspondence with more than 500 collectors It included representatives of more than 1300 species The collection which included the type specimens of 232 species described by Clark 3 1 2 was donated in its entirety to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History after his death 5 Additional Sources Edit Rahn R A 1997 Clark B P News Lep Soc 39 4 73 89 Rehn J A G 1939 Clark B P Ent News 50 90 Sachtleben H 1939 Clark B P Arb morph taxon Ent Berlin Dahlem 6 209 References Edit a b Clark Benjamin Preston 1916 New American Sphingidae Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club 6 39 50 a b Clark Benjamin Preston 1936 Descriptions of twenty four new Sphingidae and notes concerning two others Proceedings of the New Zealand Zoological Club 15 71 91 a b Clark Benjamin Preston 1923 Twenty five New Sphingidae Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club 8 1 23 Patent US416052 United States Patent Office November 26 1889 a b c d e Clark Josephine F 1947 Benjamin Preston Clark Boston Massachusetts Thomas Todd Company Clark Jospehine F kiki huh harvard edu 2021 Archived from the original on 2021 11 18 Retrieved 2021 11 18 This article about an American entomologist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benjamin Preston Clark amp oldid 1120671744, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
