Sn Wemortam. 
ROBERT CALVERT. 
By the death, on the 21st February, of Mr. Robert Calvert, Bishop 
Auckland has lost one of its oldest, best known, and most 
picturesquely historical residents. He was born at Jock’s Row, 
by the Wear Side, at Bishop Auckland, on 25th October, 1815 ; 
educated at the Barrington School; and apprenticed to Peter Fair, 
then the only printer in the town. After his apprenticeship, he 
started business in Sunderland, and had episodical dealings with the 
famous artist, John Wilson Ewbank, R.S.A., whose life was one of 
strange and pathetic vicissitudes. Mr. Calvert knew Ewbank and 
his daughter when in the deeps of misfortune. The daughter in 
those days helped her father in painting, and in going round to 
dispose of the work. Mr. Calvert frequently bought of Ewbank 
paintings on sheets of tin, thrown off quickly to get food, and as 
often to get drink. Mr. Calvert next went into business at Cockfield, 
and subsequently returned to Bishop Auckland, where he began the 
business of auctioneer, valuer, etc. He retired a few years ago on 
ample means, the result of industry, good habits, intelligence, and 
sterling character. He had a considerable knowledge of the fauna 
of the county of Durham before it became disturbed by the opening 
out of collieries and the consequent increase of population. I have 
a pair of Crossbills shot by him some time in the ‘fifties,’ up the 
Wear Valley near Wolsingham, at a place where they had nested.. 
My latest dealings with him were in connection with an article by 
Mr. J. H. Gurney, * On the occasional appearance in England of the 
Crested Tit,’ in the ‘Zoologist’ for June 1890, wherein Mr. Gurney 
writes :—‘In the county of Durham it has been shot once, on 
Sunderland Moor, in January 1850, and the specimen is said (Zool., 
p- 2766) to be in the possession of a Mr. Calvert, whom I have 
tried to trace, but in vain.” Knowing that he had lived in Sunder- 
land, I inquired of Mr. Calvert if he had the bird in question; he 
replied in the affirmative, saying that two had been shot, and he 
kindly presented one to me. 
But it was as an entomologist that he had most experience, and 
he has left insect collections of no ordinary value. I remember 
his surprise and delight when told of the swarms of Fritillaries I had 
noticed in the open glade of a wood, within a few miles of Bishop 
Auckland, and of whose presence he was not aware; he promptly 
visited the place and secured some very good examples. He was 
Naturalist, 
