Sir William Jardine was a key figure in the history of Victorian-era science. He owned the finest private natural history museum and library in Britain and made natural history widely available by issuing the The Naturalists' Library , forty small, affordable volumes on birds, mammals, fish, and insects. Yet, until now, no comprehensive biography of him existed.This book explores the history of this singular man, his impact on the study of natural history, and its popularization through his publishing efforts.