John Latham (ornithologist)

John L. Latham (* June 27, 1740 in Eltham, † February 4, 1837 ) was a British physician, ornithologist, naturalist and author.

Life and work

Latham was known as the " grandfather " of Australian ornithology. He studied species of Australian birds, who arrived in England in the last quarter of the 18th century, and previously unnamed birds he gave a scientific name. Among the Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae ), the umbrella cockatoo ( Cacatua alba), the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax ), the slaty lyrebird ( Menura novaehollandiae ) and the Australian Flute birds were ( Gymnorhina tibicen ). He also was the first to Hyacinth Macaw ( Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus ) described. As a physician practicing in Latham Dartford in Kent, England, where he prepared the Dartford warbler (Sylvia undata ). He went into retirement in 1796 and moved to Hampshire. His most famous works are: A general synopsis of birds (1781-1801) and A general history of birds ( 1821-28 ).

A general synopsis of birds was Latham's first ornithological work and included 106 illustrations drawn by him. It described many new species he has discovered in various museums and collections. As Leclerc de Buffon (1707-1788), he attached no importance to the nomenclature of this species. Later, however, Latham noted that only the binomial nomenclature as Carl von Linné (1707-1778) they used, would provide him the necessary respect, as determined by him also recognize these species. So he published in 1790 the index ornithologicus, which he each gave a binomial name of him until now described species. But his suffering was Johann Friedrich Gmelin (1748-1804) and was faster in his own version of Linnaeus' Systema Naturæ these species a scientific name.

Latham was elected in 1775 to the Royal Society and was co-founder of the Linnean Society of London.

Works

• A general synopsis of birds, with a suppl. White, Leigh & Sotheby's, London from 1781 to 1802.
• Index ornithologicus sive Systema ornithologiæ. London, Paris 1790-1809.
• General Overview of the birds. Weigel, Nuremberg 1793.
• Faunula Indica id est Catalogus animalium Indiae orientalis. Gebauer, Halle 1795.
• A general history of birds. Jacob & Johnson, Winchester 1821-28.