James Sykes Gamble
Encyclopedia
James Sykes Gamble FRS
(1847–1925) was an English botanist
who specialized in the flora of the Indian sub-continent.
He was born in London, the son of Harpur Gamble, M.D. and Isabella, and educated at the Royal Naval School
, New Cross
, Magdalen College, Oxford
, and the École Nationale des Eaux et Forêts, Nancy.
He sailed for India
in 1871 to join the Imperial Forest Department, and ultimately became Director of the Forest School at Dehra Dun. In 1890, Gamble founded the Forest School Herbarium (renamed the Dehra Dun Herbarium in 1908), but is probably best remembered for his authorship of A Manual of Indian Timbers.
In 1899 Gamble was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, his candidature citation describing him as: 'Conservator of Forests, School Circle, NW Provinces, India, and Director of the Imperial Forest School, Dehra Dunn. Fellow of the University of Madras, and 'ex-officio' Fellow of the University of Allahabad. Author of a List of Trees, Shrubs, &c, of the Darjeeling District, Bengal (1st edit, 1877; 2nd edit, 1896); a Manual of Indian Timbers, published in 1881; a Monograph of the Bambuseae of British India, 1896. Also many papers on Forestry and on Botanical subjects in the 'Indian Forester,' which he has long edited'.
Gamble retired to the UK in 1899 and married, in 1911, Gertrude Latter.
NB: Gamble is listed erroneously as J. H. Gamble in some treatises.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(1847–1925) was an English botanist
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...
who specialized in the flora of the Indian sub-continent.
He was born in London, the son of Harpur Gamble, M.D. and Isabella, and educated at the Royal Naval School
Royal Naval School
The Royal Naval School was an English school that was established in Camberwell, London, in 1833 and then formally constituted by the Royal Naval College Act 1840. It was a charitable institution, established as a boarding school for the sons of officers in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Many of...
, New Cross
New Cross
New Cross is a district and ward of the London Borough of Lewisham, England. It is situated 4 miles south-east of Charing Cross. The ward covered by London post town and the SE 14 postcode district. New Cross is near St Johns, Telegraph Hill, Nunhead, Peckham, Brockley, Deptford and Greenwich...
, Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, and the École Nationale des Eaux et Forêts, Nancy.
He sailed for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1871 to join the Imperial Forest Department, and ultimately became Director of the Forest School at Dehra Dun. In 1890, Gamble founded the Forest School Herbarium (renamed the Dehra Dun Herbarium in 1908), but is probably best remembered for his authorship of A Manual of Indian Timbers.
In 1899 Gamble was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, his candidature citation describing him as: 'Conservator of Forests, School Circle, NW Provinces, India, and Director of the Imperial Forest School, Dehra Dunn. Fellow of the University of Madras, and 'ex-officio' Fellow of the University of Allahabad. Author of a List of Trees, Shrubs, &c, of the Darjeeling District, Bengal (1st edit, 1877; 2nd edit, 1896); a Manual of Indian Timbers, published in 1881; a Monograph of the Bambuseae of British India, 1896. Also many papers on Forestry and on Botanical subjects in the 'Indian Forester,' which he has long edited'.
Gamble retired to the UK in 1899 and married, in 1911, Gertrude Latter.
NB: Gamble is listed erroneously as J. H. Gamble in some treatises.
Publications
- Flora of the Presidency of Madras, (1921), London.
- A Manual of Indian Timbers: An Account of the Growth, Distribution and Uses of the Trees and Shrubs of India and Ceylon with Description of Their Wood-Structure. (1902). Bishen Sigh Mahendra Pal Sigh, India. (Reprint: Dehradun, International, 2002, xxvi, 868 p., ISBN 81-7089-283-X).
- The Bambuseae of British India. Annals of the Royal Botanic Garden Calcutta, (1896), 133 pp.
- List of the trees, shrubs and large climbers found in the Darjeeling District, Bengal, (1878), Bengal.