Raphael Meldola: the Essex Field Club papers at Imperial College
Brief Biographical Detail
Meldola was born in Islington in 1849, his grandfather was the then Chief Rabbi of London. He
was educated at private schools in Kew and Maida Vale, then in 1866 at the age of 17 he enrolled
at the Royal College of Chemistry'' as an occasional student, giving his address as 8 Park Place,
Leyton, Essex. It was here that he struck up a friendship with John Keast Lord7, both sharing a
strong interest in natural history. However it was to be the world of chemistry, more specifically the
area of dyestuffs, in which Meldola was to build his career. Yet he did not begin working in the field
until 3 years after leaving the College of Chemistry. Natural history investigations were the subj ect
of his initial publications; his very first piece appeared in Entomologist in 1869 and was entitled
"Fascination exercised by a Frog". Another article the same year ''Aplecta occulta in Essex''
concerned Epping Forest, an area he was to take greater interest in later on through the Field Club.
It was not until 1874 that he first published on chemistry, by when his natural history publications
numbered 23.*
He eventually left the manufacturing industry in 1885 somewhat disillusioned by the continual lack
of collaboration between science and industry within Britain. However, he did not completely
forsake the subject, moving to the academic side and taking up the appointment of Chair of Chemistry
at Finsbury Technical College9 where with F.W. Streatfield10, he continued his research and published
on the subject right up until his death in 1915.
A clear indication of his talents and the esteem in which he was held is reflected by the various
societies to which he was elected President. From 1905 -1907 he was President of the Chemical
Society. Following the death of W.H. Perkin11 he became President of the Society of Dyers and
Colourists 1907 and 1908. The following year he assumed the Presidency of the Society of Chemical
Industry, then in 1912 held that role for the Institute of Chemistry and from 1911 - 1915 was also
President of the Society of Maccabaeans.
Throughout his career Meldola simultaneously and vigorously pursued his passion for natural history,
in particular entomology. He was elected a Fellow of the Entomological Society in 1872. served as
Secretary from 1876 - 1880, then later as its President 1895 - 1897. He assisted in the founding of
the Essex Field Club and served as its first President from 1880 - 1882 assuming the role again in
1901 -1902. It was for his skills as a naturalist rather than a chemist that Charles Darwin proposed
him for Fellowship of the Royal Society, a position to which he was elected in 1886, and was
eventually appointed Vice-President shortly before he died.
Eminent and Entomological Correspondents
The following brief summary of items from the collection shows how Meldola corresponded with
those for whom entomology and natural history was a chosen profession.
There are letters from H.T. Stainton12on matters relating to the Entomological Society; from Richard
South'- on the occurrence of Coremia quadrifasciaria,14 and giving details of the appearances of
many other butterflies and moths"; from John Jenner Weir,1'1 who corresponds on Lepidoptera17
but also sends Meldola a sample of dust from Krakatoa; letters from Lord Walsingham,17 about
earthquakes and Lepidoptera, and from Sidney Saunders,19 on the correct terminology for naming
and on a mistakenly taken umbrella!.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 21 (2004)
21