Herbert Knowles Morrison (January 24, 1854 – June 15, 1885) was an American

entomologist Entomology (from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (''éntomon''), meaning "insect", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study") is the branch of zoology that focuses on insects. Those who study entomology are known as entomologists. In ...

and professional collector of insects. He was one of the founding members of the Cambridge Entomological Club, Massachusetts. Morrison was born in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, the oldest child of William Albert and Mary Elizabeth (née Butler). He began to collect insects at the age of twelve and then began to take a special interest in the

noctuid The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. Taxonomically, they are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along w ...

moths. From 1874, he began to collect and sell specimens for a living, making trips to remote areas. He collected in Colorado, Nevada, Washington, southern California, Arizona, Florida, and New Mexico. In 1885 while collecting in Key West, he was struck with

dysentery Dysentery ( , ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications may include dehyd ...

and died, despite his fitness. He often walked forty miles a day collecting insects. He died in

Morganton, North Carolina Morganton is a city in and county seat of Burke County, North Carolina, United States. It is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Catawba River. The population was 17,474 at the 2020 census. Morganton is approximately ...

. The Cambridge Entomological Club was formed in 1874 by amateur entomologists in the Boston area. They met in the home of H.A. Hagen, and the club was formed with thirteen members of whom Morrison was later made head of a committee on excursions.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrison, Herbert Knowles American entomologists People from Boston 1854 births 1885 deaths