Theresa Clay
Theresa Clay | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 February 1911 |
| Died | 17 March 1995 (aged 84) Dorset, England |
| Other names | Theresa Clay Searight |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Known for | Research on Mallophaga, probable collaboration in Richard Meinertzhagen's frauds |
| Spouse | Rodney G. Searight |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Entomology |
| Institutions | British Museum (Natural History) |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | Clay |
Theresa Rachel "Tess" Clay (7 February 1911 – 17 March 1995) was an English entomologist. She was introduced to zoology by her older relative, the ornithologist and adventurer Richard Meinertzhagen, with whom she had an unusually close relationship. She became the world's expert on Mallophaga, or chewing lice; however, her work is cast into question by her suspected role in Meinertzhagen's many scientific frauds.
During and immediately after World War II, she worked with Victor Rothschild at MI5.