Nicholas Aylward Vigors
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Aylward Vigors was an Irish
zoologist and politician
.
Vigors was born at Old Leighlin, County Carlow
. He studied at Trinity College, Oxford
. He served in the army during the Peninsular War
from 1809 to 1811. He then returned to Oxford, graduating with a B.A. in 1815 and in 1817 with an M.A., he practiced as a barrister and was awarded the D.C.L. in 1832.
Vigors was a co-founder of the Zoological Society of London
in 1826, and its first secretary until 1833. In that year, he founded what became the Royal Entomological Society of London
. He was a fellow of the Linnean Society and the Royal Society
. He was the author of 40 papers, mostly on ornithology
. He provided the text for John Gould
's A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains (1830–32).
Vigors succeeded to his father's estate in 1828. He was MP for the borough of Carlow
from 1832 until 1835. He briefly represented the constituency of County Carlow
in 1835. Vigors had been elected in a by-election in June after the Conservative MPs originally returned at the United Kingdom general election, 1835
were unseated on petition and a new writ issued. On 19 August 1835 Vigors and his running mate, in the two member county constituency, were unseated on petition. The same two Conservatives who had previously been unseated were awarded the seats. On the death of one of them, Vigors won the subsequent by-election in 1837 and retained the seat until his own death.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
zoologist and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Vigors was born at Old Leighlin, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He studied at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
. He served in the army during the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
from 1809 to 1811. He then returned to Oxford, graduating with a B.A. in 1815 and in 1817 with an M.A., he practiced as a barrister and was awarded the D.C.L. in 1832.
Vigors was a co-founder of the Zoological Society of London
Zoological Society of London
The Zoological Society of London is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats...
in 1826, and its first secretary until 1833. In that year, he founded what became the Royal Entomological Society of London
Royal Entomological Society of London
The Royal Entomological Society of London is devoted to insect study. It has a major national and international role in disseminating information about insects and improving communication between entomologists....
. He was a fellow of the Linnean Society and the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. He was the author of 40 papers, mostly on ornithology
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
. He provided the text for John Gould
John Gould
John Gould was an English ornithologist and bird artist. The Gould League in Australia was named after him. His identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches" played a role in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
's A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains (1830–32).
Vigors succeeded to his father's estate in 1828. He was MP for the borough of Carlow
Carlow Borough (UK Parliament constituency)
Carlow Borough was a Parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
from 1832 until 1835. He briefly represented the constituency of County Carlow
Carlow County (UK Parliament constituency)
Carlow County was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which from 1801 to 1885 returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and one MP from 1885 to 1922....
in 1835. Vigors had been elected in a by-election in June after the Conservative MPs originally returned at the United Kingdom general election, 1835
United Kingdom general election, 1835
The 1835 United Kingdom general election was called when Parliament was dissolved on 29 December 1834. Polling took place between 6 January and 6 February 1835, and the results saw Robert Peel's Conservatives make large gains from their low of the 1832 election, but the Whigs maintained a large...
were unseated on petition and a new writ issued. On 19 August 1835 Vigors and his running mate, in the two member county constituency, were unseated on petition. The same two Conservatives who had previously been unseated were awarded the seats. On the death of one of them, Vigors won the subsequent by-election in 1837 and retained the seat until his own death.