BY GEORGE EDWARDS, CIRCA 1746

George Edwards (1694 - 1773) was born at Stamford, Essex and was educated at public school in Leytonstone, later being apprenticed to a tradesman in London. Having access to a large library of scientific books Edwards studied these assiduously and, having made up his mind not to enter business, decided to travel abroad. Between 1716 and 1733 he visited many foreign countries but in December of the latter year settled down in London and, through the influence of Sir Hans Sloane, was chosen Librarian to the Royal College of Physicians. Almost immediately he commenced the preparation of a series of coloured drawings of animals and birds used in his A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, published 1743 - 53, and subsequent publications. He was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Society and later elected a Fellow.
Edwards publication provided the source material for Samuel Dixon's first set of 'Foreign Birds', issued in 1750. Many of Dixon's works correspond almost exactly to Edwards', including the printed descriptions.