John David Digues La Touche

Who was John David Digues La Touche?

John David Digues La Touche was an Irish ornithologist.

The La Touche family was of Huguenot extraction, however John David Digues La Touche was educated at Downside Abbey, near Bath. He entered the Imperial Maritime Customs Service in China in 1882 where he lived until 1921. He retired to Dublin and later lived in County Wicklow Newtownmountkennedy.

During his time in China, he made extensive ornithological observations and collections, resulting in many important publications. Notably, he wrote the A Handbook of the Birds of Eastern China, consisting of two volumes and altogether ten parts that were published in 1925–1934. He also made other collections, including reptiles and amphibians.

La Touche's free-tailed bat is named for him.