J. Malcolm Fawcett


James Farish Malcolm Fawcett was an English cavalry officer of the 5th Lancers. He was also an entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera.

Life

The son of James Fawcett of Edinburgh, who was resident at Scaleby Castle in 1847, he was educated at Harrow School. He matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford in 1875 at the age of 19. In 1878, a cadet of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he became a second lieutenant in the 18th Hussars. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1881, to captain in 1884, and to major in 1892.
Fawcett served in the defence of Ladysmith 1899–1900 during the Second Boer War, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was wounded on 22 December 1899. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with two clasps.

Legacy

Fawcett's collection of African moths was acquired by Walter Rothschild for his museum at Tring and are now in the Natural History Museum in London. His butterflies were sold by auction. Fawcett's clouded yellow is named for him.
He entered the game record books for a nilgai from Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

Works

Fawcett lived at Peckleton House, Hinckley, Leicestershire, and was married on 20 October 1888 to Caroline Agar-Ellis, daughter of Leopold Agar-Ellis, 5th Viscount Clifden.