author
Thomas Bell
1792–1880
A pioneering naturalist and writer, he brought the animal life of Britain to a wide audience through clear, accessible books on mammals, reptiles, and crustaceans. His work also helped preserve the legacy of Gilbert White and contributed to the growing study of zoology in the 19th century.
1 Audiobook
![The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, [vol. 5 of 5] : Reptiles](/api/img/6a55b5099d3ae49e04ac98a2/cover.jpg)
About the author
Thomas Bell (11 October 1792–13 March 1880) was an English dental surgeon, zoologist, and writer born in Poole, Dorset. He trained in London and became dental surgeon at Guy’s Hospital, while pursuing a lifelong interest in natural history. In 1836, he was appointed Professor of Zoology at King’s College, London.
Bell wrote several influential works, including A History of British Quadrupeds, A History of British Reptiles, and studies of stalk-eyed crustaceans. He also began the ambitious Monograph of the Testudinata, devoted to turtles and tortoises, and described reptiles and amphibians collected during Charles Darwin’s voyage on the Beagle.
After retiring to Selborne, Bell developed a deep interest in the home of naturalist Gilbert White. In 1877, he published a new edition of White’s The Natural History of Selborne. Bell died in Selborne in 1880, leaving behind an important body of writing that helped make zoological knowledge accessible to general readers.