author
William Spence
1783–1860
A Yorkshire naturalist and political writer, he is best remembered for helping make the study of insects lively and accessible to general readers. His work linked careful observation with clear, popular explanation at a time when natural history was reaching a wider public.
4 Audiobooks
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. 1 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
An Introduction to Entomology: Vol. 3 or Elements of the Natural History of the Insects
by William Kirby, William Spence
About the author
Born in the East Riding of Yorkshire around 1783, William Spence built a reputation in two very different fields: political economy and entomology. Early in his career he wrote on economic questions, but he became especially well known for his lifelong interest in insects and the natural world.
Spence is most closely associated with the great entomologist William Kirby. Together they wrote An Introduction to Entomology, a widely read work that helped popularize the subject in English and invited non-specialists into the study of insect life. He was also active in the scientific community and became one of the early leading figures of the Entomological Society of London.
He died on January 6, 1860. Today he is remembered as a lively communicator as well as a serious observer: someone who helped turn entomology from a specialist pursuit into a subject that curious general readers could enjoy.