John Gould (1804–1881)
The Bird Man
John Gould (1804–1881) Victorian Naturalist known as “The Bird Man” was a prominent English ornithologist and publisher renowned for his monumental books and contributions to the study of birds during the 19th century.
He was born on September 14, 1804, in Lyme Regis, where his father was an under-gardener, later working at Windsor’s Royal Gardens, and where John Gould served a six-year apprenticeship. These experiences were the foundation of Gould’s love of nature.
By 1824 John Gould had set himself up as a taxidermist in London and in 1828 by the time he was in his mid-twenties, he had secured a position as a taxidermist at the newly formed Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
These experiences were the foundations of the launch of his public career as an ornithologist and an illustrator.
Gould might never have become the “Bird Man” whose works are still cornerstones of ornithological art and science if it had not been for the ZSL and for his wife, Elizabeth, for she played a critical, but often underacknowledged, role in creating many of the stunning lithographs for his early works. An accomplished artist in her own right, she transformed Gould’s sketches into the richly detailed, hand-coloured plates that became hallmarks of his publications.
John Gould lived for 50 years in London, and it is said that his home in Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury, was packed with taxidermy birds.
Gould’s Rise to Prominence
Gould’s rise to prominence began in 1830 when he published his first major work, A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains.
His notes on Himalayan bird specimens and early descriptions of Australian species appear in early Zoological Society papers dated 1831–1832. These are also digitized on the Internet Archive and are free to view.
Gould famously described the finches brought back by Charles Darwin from the Beagle voyage in 1837, Darwin’s Beagle specimens described by Gould appear here at Internet Archive
Gould’s work is referenced in Charles Darwin‘s book, On the Origin of Species.
During his life Gould produced over 40 lavishly illustrated volumes, including Birds of Europe, Monograph of the Ramphastidae (Toucans), and his monumental Birds of Australia.
The Birds of Australia set the tone for his future publications, combining meticulous scientific descriptions with vivid, life-like illustrations.
The Birds of Australia was a gigantic and significant seven-volume series published between 1840 and 1848 featuring over six hundred plates. This work introduced many bird species to the Victorian scientific community for the first time.
In order to work on The Birds of Australia, John and his wife sailed to Australia in 1838. They were supported by a collecting assistant, Mr. John Gilbert (who later died on another Australian expedition with Leichhardt in 1844). Gould’s entourage also included members of the now-famous Rowland Ward family who brought first hand observations that that gave integrity and scientific accuracy to his work. Elizabeth managed to complete 84 Imperial sized lithographic plates before she died in 1841 after returning from Australia.
The Birds of Australia is still one of the most significant ornithological works of its time.
Gould’s Hummingbirds
Gould composed a remarkable collection of hummingbirds that were exhibited at the same time as the Great Exhibition of 1851 which was taking place in London at the Crystal Palace.
John Gould took a gamble. He wagered that the Crystal Palace Exhibition would attract huge crowds that would be inspired by what they had already seen, so Gould built his own exhibition of Hummingbirds in the gardens of the Zoological Society, just three miles away. Visitors paid 6d each for a ticket and 75,000 people visited Gould’s display. It is said that Gould made a profit of eight hundred pounds, while if he had shown within the exhibition the profit would not have come to him directly. A large part of the preserved collection of John Gould’s hummingbirds was later sold to the British Museum. There are indications that the company of Edward Gerrard was the taxidermist for the preparation of John Gould’s Hummingbird Collection.
Gould’s Inspiration – John James Audubon
John James Audubon (1785–1851) had died 30 years before Gould came to prominence.
John Gould (1804–1881) and John James Audubon (1785–1851) were both towering figures in ornithology and bird illustration of the 19th century. It is argued that Audubon’s success with The Birds of America set the stage for Gould who began his own career shortly after Audubon’s The Birds of America was completed, but Gould’s approach was distinct from Audubon’s since he emphasized scientific accuracy combined with the artistic beauty that Audubon had already shown.
Audubon’s The Birds of America with its large format portrayals inspired many naturalists, and it is likely Gould was among those who admired the monumental scope and artistic grandeur of this publication.
Gould’s Connection with Edward Lear
Gould had a strong connection with Edward Lear, an artist and illustrator renowned for his bird and animal illustrations. Edward Lear (1812-1888) was mostly self-educated. At the age of sixteen he had become a serious ornithological illustrator, and produced the illustrations for Gould’s volume The Family of Psittacidae or Parrots (published 1832) which was a forerunner to Gould’s major volumes of bird paintings.
By the age of nineteen Lear was being favourably compared to the great Audubon.
Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots drawn for Gould by Edward Lear published in 1832.
Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots drawn for Gould by Edward Lear published in 1832.
Gould and the London Naturalists
The world of 19th-century natural history was interconnected, and Gould’s ability to cultivate relationships with influential naturalists and scientists in London’s vibrant intellectual scene was integral to his success.
One of Gould’s earliest and most important connections was with the Zoological Society of London. In the late 1820s. His work as a taxidermist there brought him into contact with some of the leading naturalists of the era, including Nicholas Aylward Vigors, a founding member of the Zoological Society. Vigors—a respected ornithologist and taxonomist—became an early supporter of Gould’s projects.
Gould had a crucial relationship with Sir Richard Owen, a renowned biologist and comparative anatomist best known for coining the term “dinosaur.” Owen shared Gould’s interest in the classification and anatomy of animals, and Owen’s influence within British scientific institutions likely provided Gould with added credibility and access to resources.
As well as collaborating with his wife, Elizabeth, on the illustrations for his books Gould collaborated with other skilled artists including Henry Constantine Richter and Edward Lear to produce the lithographs for his books.
Gould also kept ties with Charles Darwin, whose evolutionary theories reshaped biology. While Gould himself was not an evolutionary theorist, he contributed to Darwin’s understanding of the finches collected from the Galápagos Islands. (Gould’s analysis revealed that the finches represented multiple distinct species, a critical observation that further informed Darwin’s development of the theory of natural selection).
William Jardine, a Scottish naturalist and publisher, was another significant figure in Gould’s network. Jardine’s publications, including The Naturalist’s Library, contributed to the popularisation of natural history, and he kept some correspondence with Gould on various scientific matters.
The Ruling Passion
John Everett Millais
Sir John Everett Millais painted a portrait entitled “The Ruling Passion” and is also known as “The Ornithologist.”
It was inspired by Millais’ visit to Gould’s house shortly before his death in 1881. This portrait was later shown at a Royal Academy Exhibition in 1885, and although the man in the picture is not Gould, it likely reflected widely on the public interest in hobbies related to ornithology at the time.
The painting is now on show at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.
John Gould’s Legacy
Gould had an ability to capture the intricate details of bird anatomy and plumage, which, combined with his comprehensive descriptions, contributed towards the knowledge about natural history in the Victorian period.
It is said that while John James Audubon captured the Birds of America, John Gould captured the birds from the rest of the world.
By the time of John Gould’s death in 1881, he had firmly set up himself as one of the most influential figures in ornithology.
His works continue to inspire scientific inquiry and artistic admiration.
About The Curator
Dorne Lovegrove is a curator, researcher, and digital publisher specialising in the heritage of Victorian taxidermy.
Her work sits at the intersection of natural history, Victorian culture, and the richly textured interiors of the 19th century.
Through narrative scholarship, Dorne brings forgotten and unknown stories to light and invites readers into a world where history, artistry, and quiet drama converge.
