George Claridge Druce
Encyclopedia
George Claridge Druce, MA, LLD, JP
, FRS, FLS (23 May 1850 – 29 February 1932) was an English
botanist and a Mayor
of Oxford
.
G. Claridge Druce was born at Potterspury
on Watling Street
in Northamptonshire
. He was the illegitimate son of Jane Druce, born 1815 in Buckinghamshire
.
He went to school in the village of Yardley Gobion
. At 16, he was apprenticed to P. Jeyes & Co., a pharmaceutical firm in Northampton
. In 1872, he passed exams to become a pharmacist. His main interest was botany
. In 1876, he was involved in the foundation of the Northampton Natural History Society.
In June 1879, Druce moved to Oxford
and set up his own chemist's shop, Druce & Co., at 118 High Street
, which continued until his death. He was one of the first in Oxford to have a telephone. He also featured as a shopkeeper in the Oxford novel Zuleika Dobson
by Max Beerbohm
.
In 1880, Druce helped to found the Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire, originally established as the Ashmolean Society in 1828. It was merged with the Oxfordshire Natural History Society by Druce in 1901. In 1886 he published The Flora of Oxfordshire, in 1887 The Flora of Berkshire and in 1926 The Flora of Buckinghamshire. He was one of very few people to write a flora
for more than one county
.
In 1889, he was awarded the degree of honorary MA by the University of Oxford
and in 1895 he was appointed Fielding Curator in the Department of Botany at the University. Among his discoveries, Druce was the first to recognise (1908–11) as a distinct variety of Field Elm a rare narrow-leaved form, unique to the English Midlands, that he had noticed at Banbury
and Fineshade Abbey, which he named 'Plot's Elm' after the Oxford botanist Robert Plot
, and which is now called Ulmus minor var. plotii.
Claridge Druce served on Oxford City Council
from 1892 until his death, and was Chairman of the Public Health Committee. He served as Sheriff of Oxford during 1896–97. He presented the City of Oxford with the Sheriff's gold chain and badge, kept in the Town Hall
, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee
of Queen Victoria in 1897.
Druce served as Mayor of Oxford in 1900–01. A stone marking the city boundary at the top of Cuckoo Lane in the east Oxford suburb Headington
was erected at the time and is engraved with his name. In 1920, Druce was made an Alderman
and a portrait in his robes can be seen in the Council Chamber.
He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Justice of the Peace
.
In 1909, Druce moved to 9 Crick Road
. He named the house "Yardley Lodge", after the village in which he spent his youth. He died at his home aged 82 and was buried in Holywell Cemetery
.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, FRS, FLS (23 May 1850 – 29 February 1932) was an English
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...
botanist and a Mayor
Mayors of Oxford
The earliest recorded Mayor of Oxford in England was Laurence Kepeharm .Since 1962 there has been a Lord Mayor of Oxford. Notable figures who have been Lord Mayor of Oxford include J. N. L. Baker , Air-Vice-Marshal William Foster Macneece Foster and Olive Gibbs .The Lord Mayor for 2010–11 is Cllr....
of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
G. Claridge Druce was born at Potterspury
Potterspury
Potterspury is a village and civil parish in the district of South Northamptonshire. The nearest main town is Milton Keynes, the centre of which is about 7 miles south-east...
on Watling Street
Watling Street
Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
. He was the illegitimate son of Jane Druce, born 1815 in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.
He went to school in the village of Yardley Gobion
Yardley Gobion
Yardley Gobion is a village in the south of the English county of Northamptonshire off a by-pass of the A508 Northampton to Milton Keynes road.-Facilities:The Grand Union Canal runs nearby east of the village....
. At 16, he was apprenticed to P. Jeyes & Co., a pharmaceutical firm in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. In 1872, he passed exams to become a pharmacist. His main interest was botany
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...
. In 1876, he was involved in the foundation of the Northampton Natural History Society.
In June 1879, Druce moved to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and set up his own chemist's shop, Druce & Co., at 118 High Street
High Street, Oxford
The High Street in Oxford, England runs between Carfax, generally recognized as the centre of the city, and Magdalen Bridge to the east. Locally the street is often known as The High. It forms a gentle curve and is the subject of many prints, paintings, photographs, etc...
, which continued until his death. He was one of the first in Oxford to have a telephone. He also featured as a shopkeeper in the Oxford novel Zuleika Dobson
Zuleika Dobson
Zuleika Dobson, full title Zuleika Dobson, or, an Oxford love story, is a 1911 novel by Max Beerbohm, a satire of undergraduate life at Oxford. It was his only novel, but was nonetheless very successful...
by Max Beerbohm
Max Beerbohm
Sir Henry Maximilian "Max" Beerbohm was an English essayist, parodist and caricaturist best known today for his 1911 novel Zuleika Dobson.-Early life:...
.
In 1880, Druce helped to found the Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire, originally established as the Ashmolean Society in 1828. It was merged with the Oxfordshire Natural History Society by Druce in 1901. In 1886 he published The Flora of Oxfordshire, in 1887 The Flora of Berkshire and in 1926 The Flora of Buckinghamshire. He was one of very few people to write a flora
Flora (book)
A Flora is a book or other work which describes the plant species occurring in an area or time period, often with the aim of allowing identification. Some classic and modern floras are listed below....
for more than one county
Counties of the United Kingdom
The counties of the United Kingdom are subnational divisions of the United Kingdom, used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. By the Middle Ages counties had become established as a unit of local government, at least in England. By the early 17th century all...
.
In 1889, he was awarded the degree of honorary MA by the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and in 1895 he was appointed Fielding Curator in the Department of Botany at the University. Among his discoveries, Druce was the first to recognise (1908–11) as a distinct variety of Field Elm a rare narrow-leaved form, unique to the English Midlands, that he had noticed at Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
and Fineshade Abbey, which he named 'Plot's Elm' after the Oxford botanist Robert Plot
Robert Plot
Robert Plot was an English naturalist, first Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, and the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum....
, and which is now called Ulmus minor var. plotii.
Claridge Druce served on Oxford City Council
Oxford City Council
The Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
from 1892 until his death, and was Chairman of the Public Health Committee. He served as Sheriff of Oxford during 1896–97. He presented the City of Oxford with the Sheriff's gold chain and badge, kept in the Town Hall
Oxford Town Hall
The Oxford Town Hall is located on St Aldate's in the centre of Oxford, England. The site was previously occupied by Oxford Guildhall. It is a meeting place for local government in the city and also houses the Museum of Oxford. In addition, it can be hired for events...
, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee
A Diamond Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 60th anniversary in the case of a person or a 75th anniversary in the case of an event.- Thailand :...
of Queen Victoria in 1897.
Druce served as Mayor of Oxford in 1900–01. A stone marking the city boundary at the top of Cuckoo Lane in the east Oxford suburb Headington
Headington
Headington is a suburb of Oxford, England. It is at the top of Headington Hill overlooking the city in the Thames Valley below. The life of the large residential area is centred upon London Road, the main road between London and Oxford.-History:...
was erected at the time and is engraved with his name. In 1920, Druce was made an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
and a portrait in his robes can be seen in the Council Chamber.
He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
In 1909, Druce moved to 9 Crick Road
Crick Road
Crick Road is a road in North Oxford, England.- Location:At the western end is the Bradmore Road and at the eastern end is Fyfield Road. To the north is Norham Road and to the south are Norham Gardens and the University Parks.- History and residents :...
. He named the house "Yardley Lodge", after the village in which he spent his youth. He died at his home aged 82 and was buried in Holywell Cemetery
Holywell Cemetery
Holywell Cemetery is next to St Cross Church in Oxford, England. The cemetery is behind the church in St Cross Road, north of Longwall Street.-History:...
.