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Last edited by TimSwainson
April 11, 2025 | History
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William Swainson

William Swainson FLS, FRS (8 October 1789 – 6 December 1855[1]), was an English ornithologist, malacologist, conchologist, entomologist, and artist. A prolific collector of natural history specimens he produced an influential illustrated classification of birds based on the quinarian system that was then in fashion. He settled in New Zealand in later life.

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Photo of William Swainson

English naturalist and artist

Born 8 October 1789
Died 6 December 1855

80 works Add another?

  • Cover of: Fauna Boreali-Americana - Or, the Zoology of the Northern Parts of British America: Containing Descriptions of the Objects of Natural History Collected on the Late Northern Land Expeditions under Command of Captain Sir John Franklin, R. N.

    First published in 2012 — 6 editions
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  • Cover of: Birds of Western Africa

    First published in 2018 — 5 editions
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  • Cover of: Fauna Boreali-Americana, or, the Zoology of the Northern Parts of British America: Containing Descriptions of the Objects of Natural History Collected on the Late Northern Land Expeditions under Command of Captain Sir John Franklin, R. N. ; Pt. 1

    First published in 2021 — 4 editions
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  • Cover of: Treatise on the Geography and Classification of Animals

    First published in 2018 — 4 editions
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  • Cover of: Ornithology.

    First published in 1837 — 3 editions
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  • Cover of: Birds of Western Africa ...
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    First published in 1800 — 3 editions
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  • Cover of: Flycatchers.
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    First published in 1800 — 3 editions
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  • Cover of: A treatise on the geography and classification of animals.
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    Cover of edition b33029398_0001 First published in 1835 — 3 editions
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  • Cover of: Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural History

    First published in 1834 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: On the Natural History and Classification of Birds: Volume 2

    First published in 2001 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Treatise on Malacology; or, Shells and Shell Fish

    First published in 2018 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Exotic conchology: or figures and descriptions of rare, beautiful, or undescribed shells ...

    First published in 1821 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Zoological Illustrations, or, Original Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, or Interesting Animals, Selected Chiefly from the Classes of Ornithology, Entomology, and Conchology, and Arranged According to Their Apparent Affinities; V. 3

    First published in 2021 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Exotic Conchology: Or Figures and Descriptions of Rare, Beautiful, or Undescribed Shells ...

    First published in 2021 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Taxidermy: With the Biography of Zoologists

    First published in 2014 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Zoological illustrations, or, Original figures and descriptions of new, rare, or interesting animals, selected chiefly from the classes of ornithology, entomology, and conchology, and arranged according to their apparent affinities.
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    Cover of edition zoologicalillust02swain First published in 1829 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Exotic conchology: or, Figures and description of rare, beautiful, or undescribed shells drawn on stone from the most select specimens. The description systematically arranged on the principles of the natural system

    First published in 1941 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: natural arrangement and relations of the family of flycatchers, or Muscicapidæ

    First published in 1838 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: On the history and natural arrangement of insects.
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    Cover of edition onhistorynatural00swaiuoft First published in 1840 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: On the natural history and classification of quadrupeds.

    First published in 1835 — 2 editions
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Photo of William Swainson

English naturalist and artist

Born 8 October 1789
Died 6 December 1855

Subjects

Birds, Mollusks, Shells, Zoology, Classification, Pictorial works, Natural history, Anatomy, Muscicapidae, Taxidermy, Zoology, arctic regions, Zoology, canada, Amphibians, Fishes, Reptiles, Animal behavior, Flycatchers, Insects, Mollusca, Shrikes, Technique, Zoologists, Administration, Animal intelligence, Animals

Places

Brazil, Australia, West Africa, Africa, Asia, England, Great Britain, Mediterranean region, Mexico, Victoria

People

Albrecht von Haller (1708-1777), James Bruce (1730-1794), Edward Gibbon Wakefield (1796-1862), Fran©ʹois Le Vaillant (1753-1824), François Le Vaillant (1753-1824), William Swainson (1789-1855)

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Links outside Open Library

Alternative names

  • William Swainson FLS, FRS

History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON
April 11, 2025 Edited by TimSwainson Remove the middle name of John as this was incorrect and added some links
April 11, 2025 Edited by TimSwainson Edited without comment.
April 11, 2025 Edited by TimSwainson Edited without comment.
January 13, 2025 Edited by raybb Edited without comment.
April 9, 2010 Edited by Mike Maehr added middle name