author
R. F. (Robert Francis) Scharff
1858–1934
A Victorian-era zoologist and naturalist, he spent most of his working life in Ireland and became one of the best-known interpreters of its animals and plant life. His books helped popularize ideas about Irish natural history and the origins of the island’s fauna.
1 Audiobook
The History of the European Fauna
by R. F. (Robert Francis) Scharff
About the author
Born in Leeds on July 9, 1858, Robert Francis Scharff studied zoology in London, Edinburgh, and Heidelberg before building his career in Dublin. He became closely associated with the National Museum of Ireland, where he served for many years as keeper of the natural history collections and later as acting director.
Scharff is remembered for his long dedication to Irish natural history. He wrote widely on zoology, zoogeography, and the distribution of animals in Ireland, and he played an important role in explaining Irish flora and fauna to both specialists and general readers.
Beyond museum work, he was active in scientific life in Ireland and published a substantial body of work over several decades. He died in 1934, leaving behind a reputation as one of the key figures in the study of Ireland’s natural world.