The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Thomas Molyneux, Sir (14 Apr 1661 - 19 Oct 1733)

Irish physician and natural philosopher, admitted Fellow of the Royal Society on 3 November 1686. In a letter to his brother, William, dated 26 may 1683, he describes his visit to Gresham College and the Royal Society Repository, where, he says, he "viewed the rarities of that place, which do very much increase, there being new additions daily made" (Weld, I.292). Dictionary of National Biography entry: https://doi-org.cyber.usask.ca/10.1093/ref:odnb/18927 Relevant locations: Birth place in Dublin, Dublin County
Educated at Trinity College (Dublin), Dublin
Residence at London, England
Relationships: Thomas Molyneux was a member of Dublin Philosophical Society (1683-)
Thomas Molyneux was a uncle of Samuel Molyneux (1689-1728)
Thomas Molyneux was a correspondent of William Molyneux (17 Apr 1656-11 Oct 1698)
Thomas Molyneux was a member of Royal Society (-)
Thomas Molyneux was a visitor to the collection of Royal Society (-)

Arthur Capel (bap. 28 Jan 1632-13 Jul 1683) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Thomas Molyneux
Mr. Constantine (-fl. 1691) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Thomas Molyneux
William Duncombe (c. 1647-3 Apr 1704) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Thomas Molyneux
John Folliott (1660-1697) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Thomas Molyneux
William Molyneux (17 Apr 1656-11 Oct 1698) was a brother of Thomas Molyneux
Roderic O'Flaherty (1629-8 Apr 1718) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Thomas Molyneux
Henry Osborne (-fl. 1697) was a associate or acquaintance (general) of Thomas Molyneux
Linked print sources: as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - Account of a not yet described scolopendra marina, by Thomas Molyneux, M. D. S. R. S. Communicated by Mr. Locke.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A discourse concerning the large horns frequently found under ground in Ireland, concluding from them that the great American deer, call'd a moose, was formerly common in that Island: with remarks on some other things natural to that country.
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - A Letter from Dr. Thomas Molyneux, to Dr. Martin Lister, Fellow of the Colledge of Physicians, and of the Royal Society, in London: Containing some additional Observations on the Giants Causway in Ireland..
as Author (in assoc. with a ms or print source) - An account of the Giants Causway in the North of Ireland.
as Correspondent - A Letter from Dr. Thomas Molyneux, to Dr. Martin Lister, Fellow of the Colledge of Physicians, and of the Royal Society, in London: Containing some additional Observations on the Giants Causway in Ireland..
as Mentions or references - A History of the Royal Society, With Memoirs of the Presidents. Compiled from Authentic Documents.
References in Documents:
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669) II. A Discourse concerning the Large Horns frequently found under Ground in Ireland, Concluding from them that the great American Deer, call'd a Moose, was formerly common in that Island: With Remarks on some other things Natural to that Country. By Thomas Molyneux, M. D. Fellow of the King and Queens Colledge of Physicians in Ireland, and of the Royal Society in England.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669) III. A Letter from Dr. Thomas Molyneux, to Dr. Martin Lister, Fellow of the Colledge of Physicians, and of the Royal Society, in London: Containing some additional Observations on the Giants Causway in Ireland.
Selections from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1669)
VII. Part of a Letter of Mr. Dale from Braintree, Feb. 1. 1699. to Dr. Martin Lister, Fellow of the College of Physicians and R. S. concerning several Insects.

HErewithHerewith you will receive a Cervus volans or two, which I take to be different from those described by Moufet in his Theat. Insect. p. 148, 149. theseThese are plentifully found about Colchester, especially towards the Sea-Coast. Besides these I have happened upon divers sorts of Scarabs, which I cannot find figured in your curious Tabulæ Mutæ in the Appendix Hist. Animal Angl. as the Βουκερως Moufet. p. 152. a Species or two of Canthaarides, three or four sorts of Lady Bugs, and others; which, although of most of them I have at present but single Specimens, yet if you desire the sight of them to design and fill up the Vacancies of your Plates with, they shall be sent up to you. Last Summer being on our Sea-Coast at Harwich, I observed no less than five or six Species of Cochleæ Marinæ two of which I have since found to be already noted by you in your excellent Hist. Conchyl. as of English Production, viz. Sect. 5. n. 19. and 43. A third I have which is by you figured, viz. n. 13. but is not marked as found in England. The fourth agrees with your n. 8. in Figure, but having no Name, I cannot be positive, I therefore desire your Name of it: (51) This I did see taken out of the Sea by the Fishermen, among Sea-Weeds, and is solitary. The other two (if they are distinct) I have herewith sent you, desiring your Opinion. Among other things which the Fishermen brought up, there were divers of those Marine Animals, which by Dr. Molyneux, Philos. Trans. n. 225. are taken for nondescripts, and refer’d to the Classis of Scolopendræ Marinæ, these our Fishermen call, Sea-Mice, and are described by Rondeletius, and by Moufet, and Johnson, figur’d under the Title of Physalus, but badly. I had like to have forgot observing to you, that the Female Cervus Volans is pretty well represented by Moufet, in his first table at the end of his Book, but without a Name, I have sent you one of them also, which was found in Coitu with the Male Else very different. I should be glad to see your Journal to Paris, or any of those petrified Shells you found there, if you can spare them.