Bell Thomas

Bell, Thomas, naturalist, was born in 1792 at Poole, Dorsetshire. After studying at Guy's Hospital and holding the position of dental surgeon there, he in 1836 became professor of zoology in King's College, London. During the years 1840-53 he acted as secretary to the Royal Society, in 1844 first president of the Ray Society, and 1853-61 was president of the Linnsean Society. His best known books are on British Quadrupeds, British Reptiles, British Stalk-eyed Crustacea, and his White's Natural History of Selborne. He died at Selborne in 1880.