James Rennie

Born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on February 26, 1787, James Rennie studied at the University of Glasgow, where he won prizes in subjects ranging from geology to natural philosophy. He later took holy orders, but his career increasingly turned toward science writing and teaching.

After moving to London in 1821, he became professor of natural history at King's College in 1830, though the chair was abolished a few years later. He then devoted himself largely to literary work, producing a long list of accessible books on insects, birds, botany, gardening, and other branches of natural history.

Rennie's best-known works include Insect Architecture, The Architecture of Birds, and several volumes in his "Alphabet" series, all aimed at explaining science clearly to non-specialist readers. In 1840 he sailed for Australia and later settled in South Australia, where he died in Adelaide on August 25, 1867.