Daniel Hanbury
Encyclopedia
Daniel Hanbury a British
botanist
and pharmacologist
, was one of the leading 19th century experts on pharmacognosy
, the study of the medicinal
applications of nature
, principally of plants
.
, Daniel Bell Hanbury, and his wife Rachel, Daniel Hanbury grew up in London
. Entering his father's firm, Allen, Hanbury and Barry, at the age of 16, young Daniel quickly proved a valuable and capable employee. His life was dedicated to his work, into which he threw himself with great energy. Hanbury, who never married, was a vegetarian
, and like many of his Victorian
contemporaries, opposed the use of alcohol
and tobacco
.
and throughout Europe
were supplemented by extensive correspondence with colleagues throughout the world. He was an essential partner to his brother, Sir Thomas Hanbury, in selecting specimens for and establishing the Giardini Botanici Hanbury
at the University of Genoa
. On his death, Sir Thomas donated his brother's entire botanical cabinet collection to Kew Gardens
, where it is now part of the Economic Botany Collection.
Hanbury's first published contribution, in volume 1 of the Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society
, was published soon after starting his work. It was followed, regularly, by a stream of articles and papers describing the pharmacological applications of various plants, insects, and chemicals, and published in such distinguished sources as the Pharmaceutical Journal and the Transactions of the Linnean Society
.
During his career he served as President of the British Pharmaceutical Conference, as Botanical Examiner of the Board of Examiners of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (served, 1860-1872; elected member 1857), and in several other major professional capacities.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
botanist
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and pharmacologist
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
, was one of the leading 19th century experts on pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy
Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural sources. The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines pharmacognosy as "the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well...
, the study of the medicinal
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
applications of nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
, principally of plants
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
.
Life
Son of a Quaker pharmacistPharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
, Daniel Bell Hanbury, and his wife Rachel, Daniel Hanbury grew up in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Entering his father's firm, Allen, Hanbury and Barry, at the age of 16, young Daniel quickly proved a valuable and capable employee. His life was dedicated to his work, into which he threw himself with great energy. Hanbury, who never married, was a vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
, and like many of his Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
contemporaries, opposed the use of alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
.
Work
Hanbury's extensive knowledge of the world's botany was based on years of study, collecting and travel - trips to the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
were supplemented by extensive correspondence with colleagues throughout the world. He was an essential partner to his brother, Sir Thomas Hanbury, in selecting specimens for and establishing the Giardini Botanici Hanbury
Giardini Botanici Hanbury
The Giardini Botanici Hanbury , also known as Villa Hanbury, are major botanical gardens operated by the University of Genoa. They are located at Corso Montecarlo 43, Mortola Inferiore, several km west of Ventimiglia, Italy, and are open daily...
at the University of Genoa
University of Genoa
The University of Genoa is one of the largest universities in Italy.Located in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, the university was founded in 1471. It currently has about 40,000 students, 1,800 teaching and research staff and about 1,580 administrative staff.- Campus :The University of Genoa is...
. On his death, Sir Thomas donated his brother's entire botanical cabinet collection to Kew Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, where it is now part of the Economic Botany Collection.
Hanbury's first published contribution, in volume 1 of the Transactions of the Pharmaceutical Society
Royal Pharmaceutical Society
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is the body responsible for the leadership and support of the pharmacy profession within England, Scotland and Wales...
, was published soon after starting his work. It was followed, regularly, by a stream of articles and papers describing the pharmacological applications of various plants, insects, and chemicals, and published in such distinguished sources as the Pharmaceutical Journal and the Transactions of the Linnean Society
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
.
During his career he served as President of the British Pharmaceutical Conference, as Botanical Examiner of the Board of Examiners of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (served, 1860-1872; elected member 1857), and in several other major professional capacities.
External resources
- Kew Gardens, Economic Botany Collection biography of Daniel Hanbury
- "Memoir of Daniel Hanbury" published in his Science Papers ... (p. [3]-40)
- Contemporary review of Science Papers