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Edward Donovan (1768 – 1 February 1837) was anAnglo-Irish writer, natural history illustrator, and amateurzoologist. He did not travel, but collected,described and illustrated many species based on the collections of other naturalists. His many books were successful in his time. He died penniless in 1837 leaving a large family destitute.
Almost nothing is known about Donovan's family background, education or early life, although he is known to have been born inCork, Ireland, and was originally surnamed O'Donovan. He is presumed to have had some independent wealth.[1][2] His health declined in later years and he died penniless at his home in John Street in 1837 leaving a large family destitute.[3]
Aged 21, he moved to London.[2] He was an avid collector ofnatural history specimens purchased mainly at auctions of specimens from voyages of exploration. He was a fellow of theLinnean Society and theWernerian Society which gave him access to the best collections and libraries in London. It was quite common for private collectors to open small public museums, and in 1807 he founded theLondon Museum and Institute of Natural History. According to the catalogues and contemporary reviews, this exhibited several hundred cases of worldbirds,mammals,reptiles,fish,molluscs,insects,corals and other invertebrates andbotanical specimens and other exotica alongside his British collections. Entry cost 1 shilling. It had public education about natural history as an objective, as well as value as source material for his publications. However, the museum was not as financially successful as he hoped.[2]
Donovan was, at first, the very successful author of a number of natural history titles, includingThe Natural History of British Birds (1792–97),The Natural History of British Insects(1792–1813),The Natural History of British Fishes (1802–08) and the two-volumeDescriptive Excursions Through South Wales and Monmouthshire in the Year 1804, and the Four Preceding Summers (1805) and the short-livedBotanical Review, or the Beauties of Flora (London, 1789–90).
He also wrote articles onconchology, entomology, etc., made drawings and arranged the natural history plates inRees'sCyclopædia and undertook commissions for private albums of his botanical artwork. His works typically appealed both to serious naturalists, through the careful descriptions and a more general readership because of the attractive illustrations.[2]
His best known works areThe Natural History of British Insects(1792–1813),An Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China (1798) andInsects of India, and the Islands in the Indian Seas (1800) andInsects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and Other Islands in the Indian, Southern and Pacific Oceans (1805).
His reputation was established by the 16 volume workThe natural history of British insects published from 1792 to 1813. Each contained high quality plates illustrating the life-cycles of the insects, which he often drew from life. It was initially intended to consist of 10 volumes, but he later added a further six. A surviving, heavily annotated complete first edition, proof set comprises 840 individual species illustrated within 636 hand coloured large octavo copper plate engravings. Normal copies comprise 576 plates. Earlier volumes were written in English but the later ones were partly in Latin as Donovan became more knowledgeable and perhaps to appeal to a more specialist, but international, readership. It was referenced by several later authors.[2]
He was a well-connected and respected member of the gentleman naturalist community. Evidence includes that his successful nomination for election as a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1799 was supported by six members (Alexander Macleay,James Sowerby, William Lewis,Thomas Marsham, George Milne andFrederick Kanmacher), rather than the more usual three.[2]
Apart from occasional excursions in England and Wales, Donovan never left London. HisInsects of New Holland is based on specimens collected byJoseph Banks andWilliam Bayly, an astronomer on thesecond andthird voyages ofJames Cook, specimens in the collection ofDru Drury and other private collections as well as his own museum. It is the first publication dealing exclusively with the insects of Australia. In the preface Donovan writes "There is perhaps, no extent of country in the world, that can boast a more copious or diversified assemblage of interesting objects in every department of natural history than New Holland and its contiguous island". Most of the plates depict butterflies together with exotic plants. Donovan often used thick paints, burnished highlights, albumen overglazes and metallic paints. These covered theengravings (from his own copper plates, Donovan personally undertook all steps of the illustration process for his books, the drawing, the etching and engraving and the hand colouring, working with a team of several employees[2]) which are not visible. At other times the fineness of his engraving and etching is apparent giving his illustrations the appearance of being watercolours.
ForAn Epitome of the Natural History of the Insects of China he obtained specimens and information fromGeorge Macartney a British envoy to China.
ForInsects of India Donovan described and figured specimens in his own cabinet, that were originally collected by the lateDuchess of Portland,Marmaduke Tunstall, a Governor Holford (many years resident in India), a Mr. Ellis,George Keate, a Mr. Yeats, and a Mr. Bailey. He also studied the collections ofJohn Francillon,Dru Drury andAlexander Macleay. His patron wasJoseph Banks. It is the first illustrated publication dealing with the entomology of India. The exact publication date, stated on the title page as being 1800, is also unclear as most plates are later; for example, the plate forCicada indica is dated 1 February 1804. Many of the butterflies figured are from the Americas. In the works ofJohan Christian Fabricius on which theEpitome was based "Indiis" confusingly refers to the West Indies or northern South America.
He co-published his books with a book-seller instead of the more usual arrangement of working with a publisher.[2]
Donovan's expensive purchases, his dealings with (according to him) his unscrupulous book seller Rivingtons of St Paul's Churchyard (after many previous years on good terms),[2] and the economic decline in England after theNapoleonic Wars, always made his financial position precarious. He had begun selling parts of his collections in 1788 and was forced to close his museum in 1817. The main auction of his collection in 1818 took eight days.[2] He continued to publish, but his financial position worsened. His collection was an important resource for his publications and its dispersal caused problems. In 1833 he made an unsuccessful published plea for funds from his supporters to bring alawsuit against Rivingtons.[2]
Donovan's grave in the burial register of St Mary's Church, Newington notes that "Elijah Edward Donovan" was buried on 28 February. The memorial stone which is now completely lost read: "Sacred to the memory of Jane Donovan who departed this life on the 9th day of Feby 1813, aged 74 years also of Margaret Willoughby Donovan, the beloved Wife of Elijah Edward Donovan Esqr. who died on the 31st day of Octr. 1822, aged 55 years also of the said Elijah Edward Donovan F.L.S. & F.Z.S. &c. &c. &c. who died on the 1st day of Feby. 1837 Aged 61 years. A man of great genius, and one of the brightest ornaments of natural philosophy, possessing great literary attainments, and an eminent author of natural history. He promoted the views of science, the extension of knowledge and the arts, and strictly observed the fulfilment of every duty that society could demand."[4]
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