Thomas Bolton (microscopist)

Thomas Bolton (1831–1887) was an English businessman, zoologist, and microscopist, who specialised in collecting and supplying specimens, especially living rotifers and other infusoria, to other microscopists by post, from his business in Birmingham, England. He discovered and described several putative new species, although his descriptions are not now recognised under the rules of formal zoological taxonomy. A number of leading contemporary scientists acknowledged his work and some named species after him. His scientific contributions were also recognised by the award of a civil list pension, at the behest of leading scientists.