Samuel Brewer
Encyclopedia
Samuel Brewer was an English botanist.
Brewer was a native of Trowbridge in Wiltshire
, where he possessed a small estate, and was engaged in the woolen manufacture, but seems to have been unsuccessful in business. He communicated some plants to Dillenius for the third edition of Ray's 'Synopsis,' published in 1724, and accompanied the editor in 1726 from Trowbridge to the Mendips, and thence to Bristol, passing onward to North Wales
and Anglesey. Brewer remained in Bangor for more than a twelvemonth, botanising with Rev. W. Green and W. Jones, and sending dried plants to Dillenius, particularly moss
es, thus clearing up many doubtful points. In the autumn of 1727 he went into Yorkshire, living at Bingley, and afterwards at Bierley, near Dr. Richardson, who befriended him. The loss of 20,000l. of his own earnings, and of a large estate left to him by his father, which was taken by his elder brother, gave a morbid tone to his letters. His son was sent to India through the influence of Dr. James Sherard of Eltham, but the father quarrelled with the doctor in 1731 about some plants. His daughter also seems to have acted 'undutifully' towards him. He had a small house and garden at Bierley, and devoted himself to the culture of plants ; afterwards he became head-gardener to the Duke of Beaufort at Badminton.
He died at Bierley, at Mr. John Pollard's house where he was buried close to the east wall of Cleckheaton chapel. Although unfortunate in business, he was a good collector of plants, insects, and birds ; the botanical genus Breweria was founded by Robert Brown in his honour, and a species of rock-rose, a native of North Wales, discovered by him, bears the name of Helianthemum Breweri. He is mentioned in the Richardson correspondence in 1742, but the dates of his birth and death are uncertain.
Brewer was a native of Trowbridge in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, where he possessed a small estate, and was engaged in the woolen manufacture, but seems to have been unsuccessful in business. He communicated some plants to Dillenius for the third edition of Ray's 'Synopsis,' published in 1724, and accompanied the editor in 1726 from Trowbridge to the Mendips, and thence to Bristol, passing onward to North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
and Anglesey. Brewer remained in Bangor for more than a twelvemonth, botanising with Rev. W. Green and W. Jones, and sending dried plants to Dillenius, particularly moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es, thus clearing up many doubtful points. In the autumn of 1727 he went into Yorkshire, living at Bingley, and afterwards at Bierley, near Dr. Richardson, who befriended him. The loss of 20,000l. of his own earnings, and of a large estate left to him by his father, which was taken by his elder brother, gave a morbid tone to his letters. His son was sent to India through the influence of Dr. James Sherard of Eltham, but the father quarrelled with the doctor in 1731 about some plants. His daughter also seems to have acted 'undutifully' towards him. He had a small house and garden at Bierley, and devoted himself to the culture of plants ; afterwards he became head-gardener to the Duke of Beaufort at Badminton.
He died at Bierley, at Mr. John Pollard's house where he was buried close to the east wall of Cleckheaton chapel. Although unfortunate in business, he was a good collector of plants, insects, and birds ; the botanical genus Breweria was founded by Robert Brown in his honour, and a species of rock-rose, a native of North Wales, discovered by him, bears the name of Helianthemum Breweri. He is mentioned in the Richardson correspondence in 1742, but the dates of his birth and death are uncertain.