William Kirby (entomologist)
| William Kirby | |
|---|---|
| Lithograph by T.H. Maguire | |
| Born | 19 September 1759 | 
| Died | 4 July 1850 (aged 90) Barham, Suffolk, England | 
| Citizenship | England | 
| Alma mater | Cambridge University | 
| Known for | "Founder of Entomology" | 
| Awards | FRS | 
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Entomology | 
| Institutions | Ipswich Museum: Entomological Society of London: Linnean Society | 
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | Kirby | 
William Kirby (19 September 1759 – 4 July 1850) was an English entomologist, an original member of the Linnean Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society, as well as a country rector, so that he was an eminent example of the "parson-naturalist". The four-volume Introduction to Entomology, co-written with William Spence, was widely influential.