Thomas Say (1787-1834), US naturalist. He is best known for being the founding father of American entomology. Born in Philadelphia, USA, Say was a self-taught naturalist. He helped to co-found the the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, USA. He made numerous specimen- collecting expeditions to frontier areas, to Florida, the Rocky Mountains, the Missouri River and the Mississippi River. He wrote two classic works; American Entomology and American Conchology. He described more than 1,000 new species of beetles, more than 400 species of other insects, and seven species of snakes.