Henry Walter Bates (1825-1892) was an English explorer and naturalist. His fame rests principally on his zoological work, especially his insect collection, and his discovery of the principle of mimicry.

Henry Bates was born in Leicester, the son of a manufacturer who intended him for a business career and apprenticed him to a hosiery maker. Bates had little formal education, but the Mechanics Institute in Leicester had a good library and offered evening courses. By attending the courses and reading, Bates learned Greek, Latin, French, draftsmanship, and composition. His growing interest in Zoology led him to spend his holidays roaming the countryside and collecting specimens.

In 1843 he met Alfred Russell Wallace, who later hit upon the idea of evolution and natural selection independently of Charles Darwin. The two young men decided to visit South America in the interest of science, but they were not able to leave until...