Gilbert White (
1720-
1795) was a pioneering naturalist. In
1756 he became curate in
Selbourne[?], his home town. He is regarded as England's first ecologist. He said of the earthworm:
- "Earthworms, though in appearance a small and despicable link in the chain of nature, yet, if lost, would make a lamentable chasm...worms seem to be the great promoters of vegetation, which would proceed but lamely without them,..." (1770)
In addition to his publications on Natural History he is also noted as a poet.