T. Spencer (Thomas Spencer) Cobbold

Born in Ipswich in 1828, Thomas Spencer Cobbold studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with high distinction. Early museum and teaching work in anatomy and natural history led him toward the subject that would define his career: the study of parasitic worms, or helminthology.

After moving to London, he taught botany, zoology, and comparative anatomy at medical schools including St Mary's and Middlesex Hospital. He later built a reputation as a specialist on internal parasites, became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1864, and also held posts at the British Museum and the Royal Veterinary College, where a special professorship of helminthology was created for him.

Cobbold wrote extensively for both specialists and wider readers. His principal books include Entozoa, Tapeworms, Worms, Human Parasites, and works on parasites affecting livestock and food. He died on March 20, 1886, and is remembered for careful, original research that clarified many once-obscure aspects of animal and human parasites.