Emily Mary Bowdler Sharpe

Emily Mary Bowdler Sharpe (1868 – ), was an English entomologist, colourist and illustrator.

Emily Mary Bowdler Sharpe was the eldest of ten daughters of Richard Bowdler Sharpe (1847–1909) and Emily Eliza Sharpe (née Burrows; 1842–1928). She had 11 sisters and one brother who died in infancy.

Along with her sisters, she began her career as a colourist for her father's ornithological books, contributing to the 103 lithographs in Richard Bowdler Sharpe and Claude Wyatt’s ''Monograph of the Hirundinidaeor Family of Swallows'' when she was 16.

As an entomologist, she wrote ''A Monograph of the genus Teracolus (Lepidoptera)'' and many scientific articles, including the description of new species of butterflies brought back by collectors. The Zoological Society of London notes her as the 'first woman to be the first author' in their Journal of Zoology. She undertook freelance work in entomology, mounting insects for Frederick Selous and checking proofs for H.W. Johnston and Charles Chubb. She was also responsible for sorting and labelling her father’s egg collection.

She was employed by the Entomology Department of London's Natural History Museum between 1916 and 1925. By 1925 her eyesight was failing and she was receiving fortnightly payments because of her financial struggles.   Provided by Wikipedia