This biography of Sir William Jardine (1800-1874), the foremost Scottish naturalist of the 19th century, uses original source material (manuscripts, correspondence, etc.). Despite Jardine's considerable achievements as ornithologist, ichthyologist, publisher and catalyst of Victorian science, no comprehensive biography exists. Jardine owned the finest private natural history museum and library in Britain and made natural history available to anyone who could read by issuing 40 small volumes on birds, mammals, fishes and insects.