Martin Lister

Martin Lister

Martin Lister, English naturalist and physician

Born	12 April 1639
Birth place	Radclive, Buckinghamshire, England
Died	2 February 1712
Place of death	Epsom, Surrey, England
Nationality	English
Known for	Conchology, arachnology

Martin Lister (12 April 1639 – 2 February 1712) was an English naturalist and physician, notable for his pioneering work in conchology and arachnology. He was a prominent figure in the scientific community of his time and made significant contributions to the study of mollusks and spiders.

Early Life and Education

Martin Lister was born in Radclive, Buckinghamshire, England. He was the son of Sir Martin Lister and Susan Temple. Lister was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he developed an interest in natural history and medicine. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1658 and later pursued a medical degree.

Career

After completing his education, Lister practiced medicine in York and later in London. He became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1671, where he was an active member and contributed numerous papers on various scientific topics.

Contributions to Natural History

Lister is best known for his work in conchology, the study of mollusk shells. He published "Historiae Conchyliorum" (1685-1692), a comprehensive work on mollusks that included detailed illustrations of shells. This work was one of the first to use copperplate engravings to depict natural specimens, setting a standard for future scientific publications.

In addition to his work on mollusks, Lister made significant contributions to arachnology, the study of spiders. He was one of the first to systematically study spiders and their webs, and he published several papers on the subject in the "Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society".

Personal Life

Lister married Hannah Parkinson, and they had several children. His daughter, Anne Lister, assisted him in his scientific work, particularly in the illustration of his publications.

Legacy

Martin Lister's work laid the foundation for future studies in conchology and arachnology. His meticulous approach to the classification and illustration of natural specimens influenced many later naturalists. Lister's contributions to the Royal Society and his publications helped advance the scientific understanding of the natural world during the 17th century.

Also see

• Conchology
• Arachnology
• Royal Society
• History of natural history