Thomas Douglas (Dougal) Victor Swinscow (1917–1992) was the founder of the British Lichen Society and the scientific journal The Lichenologist.
As a child Swinscow explored his home area of Devon and developed his interest in natural history.
After training in southern England and in Scotland, he was posted to Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa.
After the surrender of the German forces, he applied to join the 1st Airborne Division and returned to England for more training, including a parachute course.
[1] From 1969 Swinscow focused on macrolichen flora of East Africa in collaboration with the Norwegian Hildur Krog.
They undertook field collections as well as characterisation and revision of the limited existing lichen knowledge of the region, published in 33 scientific publications.
Among his scientific publications were: He was awarded the Bronze Cross of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for devotion to duty and personal gallantry in action.
[1] In 1969 he was given the H. H. Bloomer Award by the Linnean Society of London that is given to amateur naturalists who have made an important contribution to biological knowledge.
[6] The other species are Dermatina swinscowii Riedl, in Sydowia (1964) 17: 104; (since reduced to synonymy with Arthothelium lirellans (Almq.)