Pennant, Thomas, 1726-1798

Natural historian, scientist, traveller and Fellow of the Royal Society in London, Pennant was acquainted with all the notable scientists of his time and was a close friend of Sir Joseph Banks. Pennant was a prolific writer and his publications include The British zoology (1766), A tour of Scotland, 1769 (1771), Arctic zoology (1784). Pennant incorporated information about Australian fauna in his books A history of quadrupeds (1781) and the fourth volume of Outlines of the globe (1798).

Thomas Pennant was a noted Welsh naturalist. Born in a distinguished Welsh family, his diverse interests led him to study natural history, and he was elected to the Royal Swedish Society of Sciences in 1757 and the Royal Society in 1767. Of his many publications, A Tour of Scotland in 1769 was perhaps most popular, and, along with similar Tour books he published, had helped preserve a record of antiquarian relics that have since been lost. He also published British Zoology and History of Quadrapeds.

Pennant was born at Dowing, Whiteford, Flintshire in 1726. He wrote works on zoology and on travel in Great Britain, and planned to publish a series of Outlines of the globe. Of the latter, four volumes were published (1800).

British naturalist.

Thomas Pennant, English naturalist, traveller, and writer.