Prideaux John Selby

• Name — Prideaux John Selby • Born — 23 July 1788 • Birthplace — Alnwick, Northumberland, England • Died — 27 March 1867 • Place of death — Bamburgh, Northumberland, England • Fields — ornithologist, botanist, artist • Author Abbrev Bot — P.Selby • Author Abbrev Zoo — Selby • Illustration — Eider duck from "Illustrations of British Ornithology" • Illustration — Melanitta perspicillata from "Jardine's Illustrations of the Duck Tribe"

Selby was born in Bondgate Street in Alnwick in Northumberland, the eldest son of George Selby of Beal and Twizell (d.1804), and his wife, Margaret Cook. He was educated at Durham School. He studied at University College, Oxford. He succeeded in 1804 to the family estates at Beal, and added to the landholdings there at a cost of some £14000 in about 1840. He sold the Beal estate amounting to 1450 acre in 1850 for £47000 (£ at today's prices). He died at Twizell House and was buried in Bamburgh churchyard.

In 1810, he married Lewis Tabitha Mitford (1782–1859) daughter of Bertram Osbaldeston Mitford (1748–1800) of Dennet's Hall in Leicester. They had three daughters.

Selby is best known for his Illustrations of British Ornithology (1821–1834), the first set of life-sized illustrations of British birds. He also wrote Illustrations of Ornithology with William Jardine and A History of British Forest-trees (1842). Many of the illustrations in his works were drawn from specimens in his collection. His wife’s first cousin and friend, Lt John Atherton of the 13th Light Dragoons who died on passage from Madras to England onboard the Rockingham in July 1827 sent a variety of specimens. Text appearing immediately before the following illustration states that Lt Atherton took the passage for the benefit of his health. • Illustration — Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis) Lt John Atherton, was the brother of Robert Atherton of Sri Lanka. In addition to the above works he contributed to Jardine's Naturalist's Library the volumes on the pigeons (1835) and the parrots (1836), the latter illustrated by Edward Lear. He was for some time one of the editors of the Magazine of Zoology and Botany. His collections were sold in 1885 and became dispersed. The South African birds collected by Andrew Smith went to the Zoology Museum of the University of Cambridge. P.Selby

The authorities additionally record the headings John Prideaux Selby, John Prideau Selby and P.Selby. His recorded language was English. He was the child of George Selby and Margaret Cook. He married Lewis Tabitha Mitford. 3 children are recorded: Frances Margaret Selby, Lewis Marianne Selby and Jane Selby.

Prideaux John Selby is recorded as a citizen of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Recorded with the occupation ornithologist.

Bowey, K. and Newsome, M. (Ed) 2012. The Birds of Durham. Durham Bird Club.