George Gardner (botanist)
Encyclopedia
George Gardner was a Scottish
naturalist
mainly interested in botany
.
Gardner's father was a gardener first to to the Earl of Dunmore in Ardentinny, then from 1816 to the Earl of Eglinton at Ardrossan
. In 1822, his parents moved to Glasgow
where he attended the grammar-school and acquired a good knowledge of the Latin language. He began the study of medicine in the Andersonian university
of Glasgow in 1829 eventually becoming a surgeon.
In 1836, encouraged by William Hooker he brought out a work, entitled Musci Britannici, or Pocket Herbarium of British Mosses arranged and named according to Hooker’s "British Flora" His botanical work impressed Duke of Bedford
who became his patron and in the summer of 1836 Gardner sailed from Liverpool for Rio de Janeiro
to collect plants, minerals, recent and fossil shells, preserved skins of birds, mammals, fishes and other natural history specimens in North Brazil
. The specimens were sent to public botanic gardens, as well as to private subscribers, to the expedition . He stayed in Brazil for years (1836-1841).In 1842 he was elected a Member of the Linnean Society.
In 1843, he was appointed to Ceylon, as superintendent of the botanic garden in Peradeniya and island botanist , by the colonial government.Here he finished "Travels in the Interior of Brazil, principally through the Northern Provinces and the Gold Districts, during the years 1836-41" published in London, by Reeves Brothers, in 1846. He had made extensive collections towards a complete "Flora Zeylanica" not published because of his early death.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
mainly interested in 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...
.
Gardner's father was a gardener first to to the Earl of Dunmore in Ardentinny, then from 1816 to the Earl of Eglinton at Ardrossan
Ardrossan
Ardrossan is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in south-western Scotland. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory...
. In 1822, his parents moved to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
where he attended the grammar-school and acquired a good knowledge of the Latin language. He began the study of medicine in the Andersonian university
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
of Glasgow in 1829 eventually becoming a surgeon.
In 1836, encouraged by William Hooker he brought out a work, entitled Musci Britannici, or Pocket Herbarium of British Mosses arranged and named according to Hooker’s "British Flora" His botanical work impressed Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, LLD, FSA , known as Lord John Russell until 1802, was a British Whig politician and notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ministry of All the Talents...
who became his patron and in the summer of 1836 Gardner sailed from Liverpool for Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
to collect plants, minerals, recent and fossil shells, preserved skins of birds, mammals, fishes and other natural history specimens in North Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The specimens were sent to public botanic gardens, as well as to private subscribers, to the expedition . He stayed in Brazil for years (1836-1841).In 1842 he was elected a Member of the Linnean Society.
In 1843, he was appointed to Ceylon, as superintendent of the botanic garden in Peradeniya and island botanist , by the colonial government.Here he finished "Travels in the Interior of Brazil, principally through the Northern Provinces and the Gold Districts, during the years 1836-41" published in London, by Reeves Brothers, in 1846. He had made extensive collections towards a complete "Flora Zeylanica" not published because of his early death.
External Links
- Significant Scots Text from Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen Blackie and Son of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London 1856.