John Wolley

John Wolley (13 May 1823 – 20 November 1859) was an English naturalist best known for his large collection of bird eggs and studies on the dodo and great auk.

His father was Reverend John Hurt and his mother Mary was the daughter of Adam Wolley who was an antiquarian.

John Wolley obtained his early education at Mr. Fletcher's preparatory school in Southwell and then moved to Eton in 1836.

He graduated with a BA in January 1846 and moved to London with the intention of studying law at the Middle Temple.

He spent a lot of time in the British Museum and took an interest in the study of the dodo, and became acquainted with H. E. Strickland.