Biography

Irish clerk for the Dublin Metropolitan Police Court and amateur naturalist interested in general plant collecting and marine molluscs. Born in Dublin Nathaniel Colgan had no training in the natural sciences but taught himself a great deal about the flora and invertebrate fauna of both Ireland and parts of Europe. After finishing his education at the Incorporated School in Dublin, he began to work for the Dublin Metropolitan Police as an office clerk and remained there until his retirement in 1916.

His academic contributions began in 1873 when his interest in literary matters led him to join the group responsible for publishing Varieties, a magazine of manuscript articles. He edited this magazine for several years and contributed regular articles to this and other local magazines. Colgan's writing was largely accounts from his travels in Europe. Every summer from 1875 he visited the continent, including trips to France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Morocco. Also collecting plants on such trips his first botanical publication was in 1880 and entitled "Plant hunting in the Dublin Mountains". During the 1890s he meticulously studied the flora of his natal region and in 1909 his Flora of Dublin was finally published. Also in the late 17th century, Colgan began to work with A.G. More on the second edition of his and David Moore's national floristic project, Cybele Hibernica. Together with P.W. Skully the Contributions towards a Cybele Hibernica, being outlines of the geographical distribution of Plants in Ireland was published again in 1898.

From 1900 Colgan was living on the coast in Sandycove, and it was at this time that he became interested in marine invertebrates. Dredging up mollusc specimens (particularly nudibranchs) he kept them in an aquarium in his house. Although a member of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club from 1886, he rarely attended meetings because of his modest and un-ambitious nature. In later life he returned to the arts and published works on history and literature such as "The Shamrock in Literature". Despite his lack of formal scientific education, Colgan made great contributions to the understanding of the flora of Ireland, as well as taking an interest in a wide range of other subjects. He liked to delve into any topic and insight debate with what R.L. Praeger described as his "kindly scepticism". Colgan also loved his home country very much and turned down several job offers with the London Metropolitan Police in order to remain in his beloved Dublin.

Sources:
R.L. Praeger, 1919, "Nathaniel Colgan", The Irish Naturalist, 28: 121-126
C.F. Dublin, 1920, "Nathaniel Colgan: An appreciation", The Irish Naturalist, 29: 23.

Biography

Irish clerk for the Dublin Metropolitan Police Court and amateur naturalist interested in general plant collecting and marine molluscs. Born in Dublin Nathaniel Colgan had no training in the natural sciences but taught himself a great deal about the flora and invertebrate fauna of both Ireland and parts of Europe. After finishing his education at the Incorporated School in Dublin, he began to work for the Dublin Metropolitan Police as an office clerk and remained there until his retirement in 1916.

His academic contributions began in 1873 when his interest in literary matters led him to join the group responsible for publishing Varieties, a magazine of manuscript articles. He edited this magazine for several years and contributed regular articles to this and other local magazines. Colgan's writing was largely accounts from his travels in Europe. Every summer from 1875 he visited the continent, including trips to France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Morocco. Also collecting plants on such trips his first botanical publication was in 1880 and entitled "Plant hunting in the Dublin Mountains". During the 1890s he meticulously studied the flora of his natal region and in 1909 his Flora of Dublin was finally published. Also in the late 17th century, Colgan began to work with A.G. More on the second edition of his and David Moore's national floristic project, Cybele Hibernica. Together with P.W. Skully the Contributions towards a Cybele Hibernica, being outlines of the geographical distribution of Plants in Ireland was published again in 1898.

From 1900 Colgan was living on the coast in Sandycove, and it was at this time that he became interested in marine invertebrates. Dredging up mollusc specimens (particularly nudibranchs) he kept them in an aquarium in his house. Although a member of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club from 1886, he rarely attended meetings because of his modest and un-ambitious nature. In later life he returned to the arts and published works on history and literature such as "The Shamrock in Literature". Despite his lack of formal scientific education, Colgan made great contributions to the understanding of the flora of Ireland, as well as taking an interest in a wide range of other subjects. He liked to delve into any topic and insight debate with what R.L. Praeger described as his "kindly scepticism". Colgan also loved his home country very much and turned down several job offers with the London Metropolitan Police in order to remain in his beloved Dublin.

Sources:
R.L. Praeger, 1919, "Nathaniel Colgan", The Irish Naturalist, 28: 121-126
C.F. Dublin, 1920, "Nathaniel Colgan: An appreciation", The Irish Naturalist, 29: 23.