Thomas Say

Thomas Say (1787–1834) was an American botanist, entomologist, zoologist, and malacologist. Born in Philadelphia, he worked in the fields of natural history, entomology, conchology, and herpetology. A member of the American Philosophical Society, Say wrote in English and is the author of twenty-three works. His notable publications include *American Entomology, or Descriptions of the Insects of North America* and *American Conchology; or, Descriptions of the Shells of North America*. He also contributed to *Account of an Expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains*.

Say’s scientific collections are held at the Harvard University Herbaria, the Natural History Museum, and the National Museum of Natural History. He was married to Lucy Say. Say died of typhoid fever in New Harmony, where he was also buried. His life and work have been described in sources such as the *Nordisk familjebok* and the *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*.