Prideaux john selby biography examples

​SELBY, PRIDEAUX JOHN (1788–1867), naturalist, was born in Bondgate Street, Alnwick, on 23 July 1788.

He was the eldest son of George Selby of Beal and Twizell, Northumberland, his mother being Margaret, second daughter of John Cook, a captain in the mercantile marine, and granddaughter of Edward Cook, recorder of Berwick from 1711 to 1731.

The father was head of one branch of an old and influential family long prominent in the history of Northumberland and the borders.

Prideaux john selby biography examples

Five members of the family received the honour of knighthood at James I's hands. One of them, Sir George Selby, mayor of Newcastle, obtained the sobriquet of King's Host from the sumptuous manner in which he entertained the king on his progresses to and from Scotland.

From a very early age Prideaux Selby showed a strong bent to ornithology, and by the time that he was twelve or thirteen years of age had composed manuscript notes of the habits