Robert McLachlanFRS (10 April 1837 – 23 May 1904) was an English entomologist specializing in the study of lacewings (Neuroptera) and caddisflies (Trichoptera).
McLachlan was born in London on 10 April 1837, one of five children of Hugh McLachlan and Hannah (Thompson) McLachlan. His father was a successful manufacturer of ship chronometers. He lived his early life in Ongar, Essex, and was educated in Ilford at a private school where he developed a good knowledge of English, French and German.[1] Due to a sizable inheritance, McLachlan was a man of independent means and devoted himself entirely to the study of entomology and other aspects of natural history.[2] An initial interest in botany was prompted by a desire to understand the relationship between butterflies and their food plants.[3]
In 1855, after a broken engagement, McLachlan traveled to New South Wales, Australia and Shanghai, China to study and collect botanical materials. On his return to England he enlisted the help of Robert Brown at the British Museum to identify the plants in his collection. An acquaintance with John Van Voorst influenced his focus on entomology and the work of Hermann August Hagen prompted him to study Neuroptera. He wrote his first paper on this order in 1861, including a description of a new British species. Other papers on lacewings followed, culminating with his Catalogue of British Neuroptera in 1870.[4]
He next turned his attention to the collection and study of caddisflies (Trichoptera) becoming an acknowledged authority on this order. His greatest work was considered to be the Monographic Revision and Synopsis of the Trichoptera of the European Fauna (1874–84). Originally published in nine parts, it was illustrated by nearly 2000 of his own detailed drawings, made with a camera lucida.[5] McLachlan had extensive connections with a worldwide community of entomologists and was able to build a collection of Neuroptera that was one of the largest in the world. He also had an extensive collection of butterflies, many of which were once common in Britain but had become rare or extinct.[6]
"In Memoriam: Robert McLachlan". The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine. 40: 145–148. 1904.
K, W. F. (1904). "Robert McLachlan" (PDF). Nature. 70 (1805): 106. Bibcode:1904Natur..70..106W. doi:10.1038/070106b0. S2CID 4040802.
w. f, K. (1904). "Robert McLachlan". The Entomologist: An Illustrated Journal of General Entomology. 37 (494): 195–196. Bibcode:1904Natur..70..106W. doi:10.1038/070106b0. S2CID 4040802.
"Robert McLachlan 1837-1904". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. 75. 1905.
James, T. E. (2004). "McLachlan, Robert". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (DNB). Oxford University Press.
robert, mclachlan, entomologist, robert, mclachlan, april, 1837, 1904, english, entomologist, specializing, study, lacewings, neuroptera, caddisflies, trichoptera, contents, life, works, notes, references, external, linkslife, editmclachlan, born, london, apri. Robert McLachlan FRS 10 April 1837 23 May 1904 was an English entomologist specializing in the study of lacewings Neuroptera and caddisflies Trichoptera Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksLife EditMcLachlan was born in London on 10 April 1837 one of five children of Hugh McLachlan and Hannah Thompson McLachlan His father was a successful manufacturer of ship chronometers He lived his early life in Ongar Essex and was educated in Ilford at a private school where he developed a good knowledge of English French and German 1 Due to a sizable inheritance McLachlan was a man of independent means and devoted himself entirely to the study of entomology and other aspects of natural history 2 An initial interest in botany was prompted by a desire to understand the relationship between butterflies and their food plants 3 In 1855 after a broken engagement McLachlan traveled to New South Wales Australia and Shanghai China to study and collect botanical materials On his return to England he enlisted the help of Robert Brown at the British Museum to identify the plants in his collection An acquaintance with John Van Voorst influenced his focus on entomology and the work of Hermann August Hagen prompted him to study Neuroptera He wrote his first paper on this order in 1861 including a description of a new British species Other papers on lacewings followed culminating with his Catalogue of British Neuroptera in 1870 4 He next turned his attention to the collection and study of caddisflies Trichoptera becoming an acknowledged authority on this order His greatest work was considered to be the Monographic Revision and Synopsis of the Trichoptera of the European Fauna 1874 84 Originally published in nine parts it was illustrated by nearly 2000 of his own detailed drawings made with a camera lucida 5 McLachlan had extensive connections with a worldwide community of entomologists and was able to build a collection of Neuroptera that was one of the largest in the world He also had an extensive collection of butterflies many of which were once common in Britain but had become rare or extinct 6 McLachlan was the first editor of the review Entomologist s Monthly Magazine He became a member of the Entomological Society of London in 1858 and served variously as secretary treasurer and president He was a member of the Linnean Society of London from 1862 and was elected to the Royal Society in 1877 He was also a member of the Zoological Society of London the Royal Horticultural Society a member of the council of the Ray Society and a member of various other British and foreign learned societies He died on 23 May 1904 in Lewisham close to London He is buried in Tower Hamlets Cemetery 7 Works EditAmong his publications are Monograph of the British species of caddis flies 1865 Monograph of the British Neuroptera Planipennia 1868 Monograph British Psocidae 1866 1867 Catalogue of British Neuroptera 1870 Monographic revision and synopsis of the Trichoptera of the European fauna two volumes 1874 amp 1880 Notes Edit DNB 2004 Nature 1904 Entomologist s Monthly Magazine 1904 DNB 2004 DNB 2004 Royal Society 1905 DNB 2004References Edit In Memoriam Robert McLachlan The Entomologist s Monthly Magazine 40 145 148 1904 K W F 1904 Robert McLachlan PDF Nature 70 1805 106 Bibcode 1904Natur 70 106W doi 10 1038 070106b0 S2CID 4040802 w f K 1904 Robert McLachlan The Entomologist An Illustrated Journal of General Entomology 37 494 195 196 Bibcode 1904Natur 70 106W doi 10 1038 070106b0 S2CID 4040802 Robert McLachlan 1837 1904 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 75 1905 James T E 2004 McLachlan Robert Oxford Dictionary of National Biography DNB Oxford University Press External links Edit Works by or about Robert McLachlan at Wikisource Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert McLachlan entomologist amp oldid 1084383786, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
