Thomas Campbell Eyton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 10 September 1809 Eyton Hall, near Wellington, Shropshire, England |
| Died | 25 October 1880 (aged 71) |
| Education | St John's College, Cambridge |
| Known for | History of the Rarer British Birds, Natural history museum at Eyton |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Frances Slaney |
| Relatives | Robert Aglionby Slaney (father-in-law) |
| Scientific career | |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | Eyton |
Thomas Campbell Eyton JP, DL (10 September 1809 – 25 October 1880) was an English naturalist whose fields were cattle, fishes and birds. He was a friend and correspondent of Charles Darwin though he opposed his theories.[1]
Eyton was born at Eyton Hall, near Wellington, Shropshire. He studied at St John's College, Cambridge,[2] where he was a contemporary and friend of Charles Darwin.
After succeeding to the estate in 1855 Eyton built a large natural history museum at Eyton Hall that included a range of bird skins and skeletons, described as "one of the finest in Europe". Besides Darwin, Eyton enjoyed a correspondence with other naturalists including Louis Agassiz, Asa Gray and Alfred Russel Wallace.[2]
Eyton published History of the Rarer British Birds (1836), A Monograph on the Anatidae, Or Duck Tribe (1838), A History of Oyster and Oyster Fisheries (1858) and Osteologia Avium (1871–78). He established in about 1842 the Herd Book of Hereford Cattle, which he edited until 1860[2]
Eyton was married in 1835 to Elizabeth Frances Slaney, the eldest daughter and co-heiress of Robert Aglionby Slaney MP. She pre-deceased him by ten years.[3]
He was a justice of the peace (JP) and a deputy lieutenant of Shropshire.[3] He served in the South Salopian Yeomanry Cavalry, entering as cornet in 1830, and promoted lieutenant in 1838.[4] He also played county level cricket for Shropshire between 1844 and 1854.[5]
A collection of letters sent to Eyton are held at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham. This archive collection also contains the correspondence of his father-in-law, Robert Aglionby Slaney, and other family members.[6]
