Richard Bradley (botanist)
Encyclopedia
Richard Bradley was an English botanist. His early life is obscure and even his date of birth is uncertain, possibly it was 1688.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712. In 1714 he visited the Netherlands where he took an interest in horticulture. Back in England, he worked at Cannons
, Middlesex
, the estate of James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
, FRS. Bradley's employer was a very wealthy man until he incurred losses in the South Sea Bubble. Chandos and Bradley shared an interest in exotic plants such as the pineapple
. Bradley's responsibilities at Cannons included the hot-house
and the "physic garden" (i.e. a botanical garden
). He was dismissed for financial mismanagement.
In 1724 he was appointed the first Professor of Botany, Cambridge University
. He indicated that he would work to establish a botanical garden in Cambridge, but died in office without the project having made any progress.
In 1701 Bradley brought a crocodile to the UK for the first time. It was kept in the lake and grounds of his home in Braintree, Essex.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1712. In 1714 he visited the Netherlands where he took an interest in horticulture. Back in England, he worked at Cannons
Cannons (house)
Cannons was a stately home in Little Stanmore, Middlesex built for James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos between 1713 and 1724 at a cost of £200,000 but which in 1747 was razed and its contents dispersed....
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, the estate of James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, MP, PC was the first of fourteen children by Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th Baron Chandos; and Elizabeth Barnard...
, FRS. Bradley's employer was a very wealthy man until he incurred losses in the South Sea Bubble. Chandos and Bradley shared an interest in exotic plants such as the pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
. Bradley's responsibilities at Cannons included the hot-house
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
and the "physic garden" (i.e. a botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
). He was dismissed for financial mismanagement.
In 1724 he was appointed the first Professor of Botany, Cambridge University
Professor of Botany, Cambridge University
The chair of the Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge was founded by the university in 1724. In 2009 the chair was renamed the Regius Professor of Botany.-Professors of Botany:* Richard Bradley * John Martyn...
. He indicated that he would work to establish a botanical garden in Cambridge, but died in office without the project having made any progress.
In 1701 Bradley brought a crocodile to the UK for the first time. It was kept in the lake and grounds of his home in Braintree, Essex.