Henry Hopley White (1790–1877) and the early researches on Chalk “Xanthidia” (marine palynomorphs) by Clapham microscopists

Abstract. In the mid-nineteenth century, a group of microscopists centred in Clapham, London, made significant early contributions to our knowledge of the fossils then known as ‘Xanthidia’ (and now known to include dinoflagellates, acritarchs and prasinophytes), describing or illustrating many types and formulating far-reaching conclusions concerning their physical character and distribution in sediments. Prominent among them was Henry Hopley White (1790–1877), London barrister and amateur microscopist. An account of White’s life is presented and the morphology and present systematic placement of the forms he described are summarized. The new combinations Eatonicysta? vestita (White) and Achomosphaera? malleofera (White), both dinoflagellates; Tasmanites globosus (White), a prasinophycean; and Comasphaeridium fimbriatum (White), an acritarch, are proposed.