Portrait

John Gould (1804-1881)

1804
Born September 14 in the small fishing town of Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast, as the son of a gardener.
1818
Gould's father appointed a foreman in the Gardens of Windsor Castle; Gould and his family move to Windsor. Gould follows in his father's trade and learns egg blowing and taxidermy.
1822
Works as a gardener at Ripley Castle in Yorkshire.
1824
Moves to London and works as a taxidermist.
1827
Appointed Curator and Preserver to the museum of the recently formed Zoological Society of London.
1829
Marries Elizabeth Coxen (1804-1841). Elizabeth lithographs Gould's sketches of birds.
1832
A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains completed.
1835
A Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans completed.
1836
Charles Darwin returns to England. Darwin and Gould discover that the 13 species of the Galapagos finches have beaks of different sizes. Later this discovery would lead to Darwin's theory of evolution.
1837
The Birds of Europe completed.
1838
The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle (5 vols.) begins publication under the editorship of Charles Darwin. 55 bird plates by John and Elizabeth Gould were included in volume 3.
The Goulds leave England for a 27-month trip to Australia in order to gather specimens. Enjoys the support and hospitality of Lieut-Governor and Governess Sir John and Lady Franklin. A Monograph of the Trogonidae, or Family of Trogons completed.
1841
Elizabeth dies.
Henry Constantine Richter (1821-1902) joins Gould. Richter would continue to work devotedly for Gould for 40 years, contributing to more than 1000 plates.
1848
The Birds of Australia completed.
1850
A Monograph of the Odontophorinae, or Partridges of America completed.
1851
William Hart (1830-1908) joins Gould.
1861
A Monograph of the Trochilidae, or Family of Humming-birds completed.
1873
The Birds of Great Britain completed.
1881
John Gould dies.
Following his death, Dr. Bowlder-Sharp supervised the completion of Gould's works.
1883
The Birds of Asia completed.
1887
The Birds of Australia, Supplement.
A Monograph of the Trochilidae, Supplement.
1888
The Birds of New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan Islands completed.
Back to top