Frederick Hamilton Davey
Encyclopedia
Frederick Hamilton Davey (1868–1915) was an amateur botanist who devoted most of his leisure time to the study of the flora of Cornwall
. Born at Ponsanooth
in the Kennall Vale, Cornwall
to a large family of limited means, he left school aged 11 to work in the Kennall Powder Mills. Encouraged by his father and local vicar, Davey took to Nature Study as his principal recreation. Of rather a weak constitution, he suffered successive bouts of ill-health, but used his convalescence to further his studies. In 1891, aged 23, he submitted his first paper to the Cornwall Polytechnic Society, followed by several more, earning him various medals in recognition of his industry. In 1899, he met ornithologist and plant collector A. O. Hume, C.B., founder of the South London Botanical Institute
, who was to accompany him on tours of Devon and Cornwall. This was clearly a seminal event, which led to Davey beginning his major opus, Flora of Cornwall, for which he was to become renowned. In 1900, Davey began training as a chemist and assayist at the Redruth School of Mines, and two years later succeeded his father as Works Manager of the Cornwall Arsenic Company's factory at Bissoe
, having acted as his father's assistant for several years.
Several years later, Davey's health again deteriorated. In 1911 he suffered a heart attack followed by a cerebral thrombosis which left him unable to speak for the remainder of his life. He died on September 23, 1915, his body laid to rest in the Wesleyan Cemetery at Ponsanooth. He never married.
and a letter to the local paper, he completed the Flora. Comprising 600 pages, the book was published in 1909 by Chegwidden, Penryn
, financed entirely by Hume.
The Isles of Scilly are covered by the Flora but not very thoroughly: there is a good Flora of Scilly by J. E. Lousley. Thurston and Vigurs published a supplement to the flora in 1922 and in 1981 L. J. Margetts and R. W. David published A Review of the Cornish Flora. 1980 Pool: Institute of Cornish Studies ISBN 0 903686 34 1, providing information on another sixty years of study.
'Daveyi' was named for Davey by Augustine Henry
.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Born at Ponsanooth
Ponsanooth
Ponsanooth is a village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately four miles south east of Redruth and two and a half miles north west of Penryn on the A393 Redruth to Falmouth road. Ponsanooth was first recorded in 1613 as Ponsanwoth Ponsanooth is a village in Cornwall,...
in the Kennall Vale, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
to a large family of limited means, he left school aged 11 to work in the Kennall Powder Mills. Encouraged by his father and local vicar, Davey took to Nature Study as his principal recreation. Of rather a weak constitution, he suffered successive bouts of ill-health, but used his convalescence to further his studies. In 1891, aged 23, he submitted his first paper to the Cornwall Polytechnic Society, followed by several more, earning him various medals in recognition of his industry. In 1899, he met ornithologist and plant collector A. O. Hume, C.B., founder of the South London Botanical Institute
South London Botanical Institute
The South London Botanical Institute was founded in 1910 by Allan Octavian Hume, a former civil servant for the British Raj in India. After returning to England in 1894 Hume turned his attention to horticulture, which eventually led him to create the Institute in a large Victorian house in Norwood...
, who was to accompany him on tours of Devon and Cornwall. This was clearly a seminal event, which led to Davey beginning his major opus, Flora of Cornwall, for which he was to become renowned. In 1900, Davey began training as a chemist and assayist at the Redruth School of Mines, and two years later succeeded his father as Works Manager of the Cornwall Arsenic Company's factory at Bissoe
Bissoe
Bissoe is a hamlet in west Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated five miles east of Redruth in a former tin mining area.Bissoe was the site of an early arsenic extraction works, the second such commercial works in Britain...
, having acted as his father's assistant for several years.
Several years later, Davey's health again deteriorated. In 1911 he suffered a heart attack followed by a cerebral thrombosis which left him unable to speak for the remainder of his life. He died on September 23, 1915, his body laid to rest in the Wesleyan Cemetery at Ponsanooth. He never married.
Flora of Cornwall
The standard flora of Cornwall is by F. Hamilton Davey Flora of Cornwall (1909). Davey was assisted by A. O. Hume and he thanks Hume, his companion on excursions in Cornwall and Devon, and for help in the compilation of that Flora, publication of which was financed by him. Davey gives an account of all the reports of Cornish plants from 1576 until his own time and divides the county into eight districts. The Flora was a formidable undertaking, with little time available, neither library nor herbarium accessible, and no existing works to consult. Nevertheless, with the aid of his band of voluntary helpers recruited through the offices of the Royal Institution of CornwallRoyal Institution of Cornwall
The Royal Institution of Cornwall was founded in Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom, in 1818 as the Cornwall Literary and Philosophical Institution. The Institution was one of the earliest of seven similar societies established in England and Wales. The RIC moved to its present site in River Street...
and a letter to the local paper, he completed the Flora. Comprising 600 pages, the book was published in 1909 by Chegwidden, Penryn
Penryn, Cornwall
Penryn is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Penryn River about one mile northwest of Falmouth...
, financed entirely by Hume.
The Isles of Scilly are covered by the Flora but not very thoroughly: there is a good Flora of Scilly by J. E. Lousley. Thurston and Vigurs published a supplement to the flora in 1922 and in 1981 L. J. Margetts and R. W. David published A Review of the Cornish Flora. 1980 Pool: Institute of Cornish Studies ISBN 0 903686 34 1, providing information on another sixty years of study.
Eponymy
The Cornish elm hybrid cultivarCultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
'Daveyi' was named for Davey by Augustine Henry
Augustine Henry
Augustine Henry was an Irish plantsman and sinologist. He is best known for sending over 15,000 dry specimens and seeds and 500 plant samples to Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom. By 1930, he was a recognised authority and was honoured with society membership in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Finland,...
.