Henry Rowland-Brown (1865—1921)

Henry Rowland-Brown was born at Woodridings, Pinner, on 19 May 1865. He was educated at Rugby; at school he was a noted athlete, and winner of the record quarter-mile. After leaving Rugby he proceeded to University College, Oxford, where he took his degree of Master of Arts.

He was a man of many parts: journalism and other literary pursuits occupied much of his working time, and he frequently contributed to the ‘Times,’ and to the ‘Strand,’ ‘Cornhill,’ and other magazines. He was also a poet of no mean powers, and his two volumes, ‘Rhymes and Rhapsodies’ and ‘Preludes and Symphonies,’ betray true poetic genius. He usually wrote under the pseudonym of ‘Oliver Grey.’ Amongst his friends was Charles Oberthür, the greatest of French entomologists. He was a lepidopterist from his childhood. His special study was the ‘Diurni’ of France. A number of his papers are included in Oberthür’s publications, including ‘Nature Study and the War,’ which had appeared previously in the ‘Times,’ and a monograph on the British races of Coenonympha tullia. His last contribution to lepidopterology was a very exhaustive one on the forms of Colias crocea. He was one of the best-known Fellows of the Entomological Society in London.

He passed away at his residence, Oxhey Grove, Harrow Weald, on 3 May 1921. He was laid at rest in the cemetery adjoining the old church at Pinner, amongst his happy hunting grounds.