, one of the earliest Linniean botanists in England, was born in
, one of the earliest Linniean botanists in England, was born in Westmoreland, about the
year 1730. He served his apprenticeship to an apothecary
in Panton-street, Haymarket, to whose business he succeeded, and with whose widow and daughters he continued
to reside. His acquaintance with the amiable and learned
Mr. Benjamin Stillingfleet greatly advanced his taste and
information in natural history. This gentleman directed
his attention to the writings of Linnæus, and gave his mind
that correct and scientific turn, which caused him to take
the lead as a classical English botanist, and induced him to
become the author of the “Flora Anglica,
” published in
Synopsis
” as a ground-work, to dispose his
plants in order, according to the Linnaean system and nomenclature, with such additions of new species, or of new
places of growth, as the author or his friends were able to
furnish. The particular places of growth of the rarer species were given in Ray’s manner, in English, though the
rest of the book was Latin. The elegant preface was written by Mr. Stillingfleet, and probably the concise, but not
less elegant, dedication to the late duke of Northumberland, “artium, turn utilium, turn elegant ioruin, judici et
patrono
”