Denis Robert Pack-Beresford

Denis Robert Pack-Beresford
Born 23 March 1864
Muine Bheag, County Carlow, Ireland
Died 6 March 1942(1942-03-06) (aged 77)
Muine Bheag
Nationality Irish
Fields Entomology, Arachnology
Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford

Denis Robert Pack-Beresford OBE (1864–1942) was an Irish entomologist and arachnologist.

Life

Denis Robert Pack-Beresford was born on the 23 March 1864, the son of Denis and Annette Pack-Beresford (née Brown) of Fenagh House, Bagnalstown, Co. Carlow.[1] He was the eldest son of nine children.[2] His father served as MP for Carlow from 1862 to 1868. Pack-Beresford attended Rugby School, and then Christ Church, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1887.[1]

Pack-Beresford married Alice Harriet Cromie Lyle in 1891, with which he had one adopted daughter, Vera.[3] Aside from his interest in zoology, Pack-Beresford became the estate owner at Fenagh House in 1881,[4] and went on to serve as the High Sherriff of Carlow, the Deputy Lieutenant, and Justice of the Peace.[2] He was awarded an OBE in 1918.[1] He died on the 6 March 1942,[1] and his estate passed to his nephew Commander Denis John Pack-Beresford.[5]

Zoological work

Although Pack-Beresford is noted as being interested in natural history since childhood, he did not publish on the subject until 1898.[6] He is most notable for his contributions to the field of arachnology and the study of woodlice and wasps in Ireland and Britain.[1] He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) sitting on its council, and the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) acting as hon. secretary and vice-president during his life.[6] It was through his association with the RIA that he took part in its surveys of Lambay and Clare Island. He was encouraged in his study of woodlice by R.F. Scharff, and G.H. Carpenter to work on spiders.[7]

Due to failing eyesight, Pack-Beresford had to give up his work towards the end of his life, as it relied heavily on the use of microscopes.[7] His zoological collections are now housed in the Natural History Museum, Dublin and his papers are held by the Royal Irish Academy.[6]

Some published works

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lunney, Linde. "Beresford, Denis Robert Pack-". The Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge University Press.
  2. 1 2 "Person Page - 27211". The Peerage. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "Household Return Form (A)". National Archives of Ireland. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. ↑ O'Toole, Jimmy (1993). The Carlow Gentry - What will the neighbours say!. Carlow: Carlow Books. pp. 28–29.
  5. ↑ Bunbury, Turtle. "Browne Clayton of Browne's Hill, Co. Carlow". Turtle Bunbury. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Praeger, R.L.; Stelfox, A.W.; Jackson, A.R. (1942). "Denis Robert Pack-Beresford, O.B.E., D.L., M.R.I.A.". The Irish Naturalists' Journal 8 (2): 38–40.
  7. 1 2 Praeger, R. Lloyd. "Some Irish Naturalists: A Biographical Note-book". National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. Retrieved 27 February 2015.

Further reading

External links

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