Men of Kent and Kentishmen/John Latham
John Latham,
ORNITHOLOGIST,
Was born at Eltham in 1740, and brought up to the medical profession which he practised at Dartford, Romney, and finally at Winchester. In recognition of his scientific attainments he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1774, of the Royal Society in the following year, and he was one of the original members of the Linnæan Society. He appeared as an author first in 1770, as a contributor to the Philosophical Transactions; but the work by which he is best known is his celebrated "General History of Birds," "undoubtedly the most useful and valuable work of its class" that had appeared up to his time. It was published in 10 vols, between 1821-24. The author died at Winchester in 1837.
[See "Gentleman's Magazine," 1837.]