Henry Jones was born near Folkestone in 1838.
He spent his early career in India, as a member of the army, and retired at the age of 43, an honorary Major. He then returned to England to devote his time and energy to studying ornithology.
Jones spent many hours in the bird section of the Natural History Museum painstakingly observing their collection of preserved specimens, both exotic and common. Yet his draughtsmanship was never dead or static, probably due to the fact that he also spent time studying living birds at the Zoological gardens in Regents Park, and on trips in Scotland, Yorkshire and Ireland.
Henry Jones died in 1921.