Francis Day

Francis Day CIE (1829–1889) was Inspector-General of Fisheries in India (from circa 1871) and Burma and an ichthyologist.

He was born on the 2^nd of March 1829 Maresfield, Sussex, UK third son of William and Ann Day. He became the medical officer in the Madras Presidency, East India Company services in 1852.

Francis Day was created a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in 1885. He was decorated with the Order of the Crown of Italy. He retired in 1877.

Day wrote a monograph on fishes between 1875-1878 "The Fishes of India" with a supplement in 1888 and two volumes on "Fishes" in The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma series in which he described over 1400 species. He also wrote British and Irish Salmonadae, which he illustrated with 9 plates, the colouring of which was done by Miss Florence Woolward. Francis Day was granted an honorary LLD by the University of Edinburgh.

Day also published Fishes of Malabar in 1865.

Although considered an expert on the fishes of India, Albert Günther found many of Day's observations questionable.

Day was an active member, and president of the Cheltenham Natural Sciences Society and presented his papers to them. He was also was an active member of the Cotswold Field Club, where he was vice president.

He died at his residence, Kenilworth House, Cheltenham on the 10^th of July...
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