William Chapman Hewitson was a British naturalist, born on 9 January 1806 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and died on May 28, 1878. A wealthy collector, this naturalist was particularly devoted to the Coleoptera and the Lepidoptera and, also, to bird's nests and eggs. His collection of butterflies,purchased from travellers throughout the world was one of the largest and most important of his time.He was a very accomplished illustrator.

Hewitson was a member of the Entomological Society of London in 1846, the Zoological Society in 1859, and the Linnean Society in 1862, and contributed to and published many works on entomology and ornithology.

Works

• British oology: being illustrations of the eggs of British birds, with figures of each species, as far as practicable, drawn and coloured from nature : accompanied by descriptions of the materials and situation of their nests, number of eggs, &c.Published for the author, by Charles Empson , Newcastle upon Tyne , 1831

• Illustrations of New Species of Exotic Butterflies. Vols 1-5 (1851, 1862-1871, 1878). Hewitson paid for the last volume when the Trustees of the British Museum refused.]]