Robert Kaye Greville
Encyclopedia
Robert Kaye Greville was a Scottish
mycologist, bryologist
, and botanist. He was an accomplished artist and illustrator of natural history. In addition to science he was interested in political causes like abolitionism
, capital punishment, keeping Sunday special and the temperance movement
. He has a mountain in Queensland
named after him.
Greville was born at Bishop Auckland
, Durham
, but was brought up in Derbyshire
as his father, Robert Greville, became the rector of the small village of Edlaston
and its nearby hamlet of Wyaston
. Greville had an interest in these natural history since he was very young, but he originally studied medicine. Realising that he did not need an income he discarded his medical education and concentrated on Botany.
Greville was awarded a doctorate by the University of Glasgow
in 1824. He gave a large number of lectures in the natural sciences and built up collections that were bought by the University of Edinburgh
.
Greville married Charlotte Eden in 1816. In 1823 he began the illustration and publishing of the journal Scottish cryptogamic flora and also contributed other articles in the field. In addition to science he was interested in political causes like abolitionism
, capital punishment, keeping Sunday special and the temperance movement
.
In 1828 he received an honour when Mount Greville in Queensland
was named in Greville's honour by a fellow botanist, Allan Cunningham
. Mount Greville became part of an Australian National park in 1948 and is now part of Moogerah Peaks National Park
. The aboriginal name for Mount Greville and the area around it (including Cunninghams Gap) is Moogerah which gave its name to the Park.
In 1835 Greville published some piano music for a sacred melody written by Rev. W. H. Bathurst. In the following year he served as President of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh for the first time.
In 1840, Greville was one of the four vice-presidents at the World's anti-slavery convention at Freemason's Hall in London on 12 June 1840. The picture above shows him in a detail from a painting made to commemorate the event which attracted delegates from America, France, Haiti, Australia, Ireland, Jamaica and Barbados. The painting now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Greville was a member of a number of learned societies including being honorary secretary of the Biological Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
. He was an honorary member of the Royal Irish Academy
and the Howard Society as well as being a corresponding member of natural history societies including Brussels
, Paris
, Leipzig
and Philadelphia. He was secretary of the Sabbath Alliance and a compiler of the Church of England hymn-book (1838).
Towards the end of his life he created landscape painting which were exhibited.
In 1866 Greville served as President of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh for the second and last time. He died at his home in Murrayfield
, Edinburgh on 4 June 1866 whilst still taking an active interest in his work having new papers in preparation for publication.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
mycologist, bryologist
Bryology
Bryology is the branch of botany concerned with the scientific study of bryophytes . Bryophytes were first studied in detail in the 18th century...
, and botanist. He was an accomplished artist and illustrator of natural history. In addition to science he was interested in political causes like abolitionism
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
, capital punishment, keeping Sunday special and the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
. He has a mountain in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
named after him.
Biography
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
, Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, but was brought up in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
as his father, Robert Greville, became the rector of the small village of Edlaston
Edlaston
Edlaston is a village and civil parish three miles south of Ashbourne in Derbyshire, just off the A515 road. It includes the hamlet of Wyaston....
and its nearby hamlet of Wyaston
Wyaston
Wyaston is a hamlet in Derbyshire, England. It is located 3 miles south of Ashbourne....
. Greville had an interest in these natural history since he was very young, but he originally studied medicine. Realising that he did not need an income he discarded his medical education and concentrated on Botany.
Greville was awarded a doctorate by the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1824. He gave a large number of lectures in the natural sciences and built up collections that were bought by the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
Greville married Charlotte Eden in 1816. In 1823 he began the illustration and publishing of the journal Scottish cryptogamic flora and also contributed other articles in the field. In addition to science he was interested in political causes like abolitionism
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
, capital punishment, keeping Sunday special and the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
.
In 1828 he received an honour when Mount Greville in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
was named in Greville's honour by a fellow botanist, Allan Cunningham
Allan Cunningham (botanist)
Allan Cunningham was an English botanist and explorer, primarily known for his travels in New South Wales to collect plants.- Early life :...
. Mount Greville became part of an Australian National park in 1948 and is now part of Moogerah Peaks National Park
Moogerah Peaks National Park
Moogerah Peaks is a National Park in the Fassifern Valley of South East Queensland, Australia, located approximately 70 km south west of the state capital Brisbane...
. The aboriginal name for Mount Greville and the area around it (including Cunninghams Gap) is Moogerah which gave its name to the Park.
In 1835 Greville published some piano music for a sacred melody written by Rev. W. H. Bathurst. In the following year he served as President of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh for the first time.
In 1840, Greville was one of the four vice-presidents at the World's anti-slavery convention at Freemason's Hall in London on 12 June 1840. The picture above shows him in a detail from a painting made to commemorate the event which attracted delegates from America, France, Haiti, Australia, Ireland, Jamaica and Barbados. The painting now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Greville was a member of a number of learned societies including being honorary secretary of the Biological Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
. He was an honorary member of the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
and the Howard Society as well as being a corresponding member of natural history societies including Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
and Philadelphia. He was secretary of the Sabbath Alliance and a compiler of the Church of England hymn-book (1838).
Towards the end of his life he created landscape painting which were exhibited.
In 1866 Greville served as President of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh for the second and last time. He died at his home in Murrayfield
Murrayfield
Murrayfield is an affluent area in the west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is to the east of Corstorphine and west of Roseburn. The A8 road runs east-west through the north of the area....
, Edinburgh on 4 June 1866 whilst still taking an active interest in his work having new papers in preparation for publication.
Family
Robert Kaye Greville and Charlotte Greville had 3 sons, Robert Northmore Greville, Eden Kaye Greville and Chaloner Greville and three daughters. Charlotte Dorothea Greville married the Rev. David Hogarth on 3 April 1857.Journals
- Flora Edinensis (1824)
- Tentamen methodi Muscorum (1822–1826)
- Icones filicum or Figures and Descriptions of Ferns (1830) (with Sir W.J.HookerWilliam Jackson HookerSir William Jackson Hooker, FRS was an English systematic botanist and organiser. He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University, and was the first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He enjoyed the friendship and support of Sir Joseph Banks for his exploring,...
) - Scottish cryptogamic flora (1822–1828)
- Algae britannicae (1830)
- Facts illustrative of the drunkenness of Scotland with observations on the responsibility of the clergy, magistrates, and other influential bodies (1834)
- Slavery and the slave trade in the United States of America; and the extent to which the American churches are involved in their support., 1845, Edinburgh