author
William Spence
1783–1860
An early champion of insect study in Britain, this writer helped turn entomology into a subject for curious general readers as well as specialists. His best-known work, written with William Kirby, became one of the landmark introductions to the world of insects.
4 Audiobooks
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. 3 or Elements of the Natural History of the Insects
by William Kirby, William Spence
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. 1 or Elements of the Natural History of the Insects
by William Kirby, William Spence
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. 4 or Elements of the Natural History of the Insects
by William Kirby, William Spence
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. 2 or Elements of the Natural History of the Insects
by William Kirby, William Spence
About the author
Born in Yorkshire around 1783, William Spence was a British entomologist and economist whose name is most closely linked with the growth of natural history in the early 19th century. Although he spent part of his life in business, he developed a deep interest in botany and then insects, which led him into a long friendship and collaboration with the naturalist William Kirby.
Together, Spence and Kirby wrote An Introduction to Entomology, published in four volumes between 1815 and 1826. The book was widely read and helped make the study of insects lively and approachable for a broad audience. Spence was also involved in the organized scientific world of his day and became a leading figure in the Entomological Society of London.
He also wrote on economics, showing the range of his interests, but his lasting reputation rests on his contribution to entomology and popular science writing. He died on January 6, 1860.