Francis Masson
Encyclopedia
Francis Masson was a Scottish
botanist and gardener, and Kew Gardens
’ first plant hunter.
Masson was born in Aberdeen
. In the 1760s he went to work at Kew Gardens as an under-gardener. Masson was the first plant collector to be sent from Kew by the newly-appointed director Sir Joseph Banks
. He sailed with James Cook
on HMS Resolution
to South Africa
, landing in October 1772. He stayed until 1775 and sent back to England
over 500 plant species. In 1776 he went to Madeira
, Canary Islands
, the Azores
and the Antilles
. In 1783 he collected plants in Portugal
and in January 1786 returned to South Africa
, remaining until March 1795.
Masson’s only book, Stapeliae Novae, on the South African succulents also known as "carrion-flowers" because of their smell, was published in 1796.
He discovered in excess of 1700 new species including:
In September 1797 he set sail for North America
, arriving in New York
in December. In the next few years he travelled widely collecting plants and seeds, visiting Niagara Peninsula
and Lake Ontario
. He died in Montreal
in December 1805, and he was buried there at the Scotch Presbyterian Church (later known as the St. Gabriel Street Church).
The genus of plants Massonia
is named after Masson. There is a commemorative plaque to Masson in Cruickshank Botanic Garden
, Old Aberdeen
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
botanist and gardener, and 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...
’ first plant hunter.
Masson was born in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. In the 1760s he went to work at Kew Gardens as an under-gardener. Masson was the first plant collector to be sent from Kew by the newly-appointed director Sir Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
. He sailed with James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
on HMS Resolution
HMS Resolution
Several ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Resolution. However, the first English warship to bear the name Resolution was actually the first rate Prince Royal , which was renamed Resolution in 1650 following the inauguration of the Commonwealth, and continued to bear that name until...
to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, landing in October 1772. He stayed until 1775 and sent back to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
over 500 plant species. In 1776 he went to Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
and the Antilles
Antilles
The Antilles islands form the greater part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. The Antilles are divided into two major groups: the "Greater Antilles" to the north and west, including the larger islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico; and the smaller "Lesser Antilles" on the...
. In 1783 he collected plants in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and in January 1786 returned to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, remaining until March 1795.
Masson’s only book, Stapeliae Novae, on the South African succulents also known as "carrion-flowers" because of their smell, was published in 1796.
He discovered in excess of 1700 new species including:
- Agapanthus inapertusAgapanthus inapertusAgapanthus inapertus, is a species of Agapanthus, native to open grasslands, forest margins and mountainous, rocky areas of South Africa.- External links :*...
, Drooping Agapanthus - Amaryllis belladonna, Belladonna Lily
- Zantedeschia aethiopicaZantedeschia aethiopicaZantedeschia aethiopica ; syn. Calla aethiopica L., Richardia africana Kunth, Richardia aethiopica Spreng., Colocasia aethiopica Spreng...
, Arum Lily - Strelitzia reginaeStrelitzia reginaeStrelitzia reginae is a monocotyledonous flowering plant indigenous to South Africa. Common names include Strelitzia, Crane Flower or Bird of Paradise, though these names are also collectively applied to other species in the genus Strelitzia...
, Bird of Paradise Flower - Senecio cruenta, Cineraria
- Protea cynaroides, King Protea
- Kniphofia rooperi, Red Hot Poker
- Trillium grandiflorumTrillium grandiflorumTrillium grandiflorum, commonly known as white trillium, great white trillium, white wake-robin, or in French as trille blanc, is a perennial monocotyledonous plant in the lily family...
In September 1797 he set sail for North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, arriving in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in December. In the next few years he travelled widely collecting plants and seeds, visiting Niagara Peninsula
Niagara Peninsula
The Niagara Peninsula is the portion of Southern Ontario, Canada lying between the south shore of Lake Ontario and the north shore of Lake Erie. It stretches from the Niagara River in the east to Hamilton, Ontario in the west. The population of the peninsula is roughly 1,000,000 people...
and Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. He died in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in December 1805, and he was buried there at the Scotch Presbyterian Church (later known as the St. Gabriel Street Church).
The genus of plants Massonia
Massonia
Massonia is a genus of bulbous perennials in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae native to southern Africa. It is named after the Scottish botanist and gardener Francis Masson.. There are 6 species in this genus: Massonia angustifolia, Massonia depressa, Massonia echinata, Massonia...
is named after Masson. There is a commemorative plaque to Masson in Cruickshank Botanic Garden
Cruickshank Botanic Garden
The Cruickshank Botanic Gardens in Aberdeen, Scotland, were built on land bequested by Miss Anne Cruickshank to commemorate her brother Dr. Alexander Cruickshank...
, Old Aberdeen
Old Aberdeen
Old Aberdeen is part of the city of Aberdeen in Scotland. Old Aberdeen was originally a separate burgh, which was erected into a burgh of barony on 26 December 1489. It was incorporated into adjacent Aberdeen by Act of Parliament in 1891...
.
See also
- List of gardener-botanist explorers of the Enlightenment
- European and American voyages of scientific explorationEuropean and American voyages of scientific explorationThe era of European and American voyages of scientific exploration followed the Age of Discovery and were inspired by a new confidence in science and reason that arose in the Age of Enlightenment...