Robert Morison
Encyclopedia
Robert Morison was a Scottish
botanist and taxonomist
. A forerunner of John Ray
, he elucidated and developed the first systematic classification of plants.
, Morison was an outstanding scholar who gained his Master of Arts
degree from the University of Aberdeen
at the age of eighteen. During the English Civil War
he joined the Royalist
Cavalier
s and was seriously wounded at the 1639 Battle of the Bridge of Dee
during the Civil War
. On recovering he fled to France when it became apparent that the cause was lost.
In 1648 he took a doctorate in medicine at the University of Angers
in Western France and from then on devoted himself entirely to the study of Botany. He studied in Paris under the guidance of Vespasian Robin, Botanist to the King of France who introduced him to Gaston, Duke of Orléans
. On Robin's recommendation Morison became director of the Royal Gardens at Blois
, Central France, a post which he subsequently held for ten years.
In 1660, despite inducements to make him stay in France, Morison returned to England following the Restoration
and became physician to Charles II
as well as his botanist and superintendent of all the royal gardens with a salary of £200 per annum, and a free house.
Earlier in 1621, Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby
had given Oxford University 250 pounds for the purchase of land for a "Physic Garden". At the same time, the earl bequeathed "certain revenues" to fund a chair in botany at the university; in 1669 Morison became the first Professor of Botany, a post that he held until 1683.
In the year that he began teaching at Oxford, Morison published Praeludia Botanica, a work which stressed using the structure of a plant's fruits for classification. At the time, classification focused on the habitat and medicinal properties of the plant and Morison's criticism of systems promoted by botanists such as Jean and Gaspard Bauhin
caused some anger among his contemporaries. In the preface to his Plantarum Umbelliferarum Distributio Nova (1672), Morison gave a definitive statement of the principles of his method and was the first person ever to write a "monograph of a specific group of plants", the Umbelliferae.
, Westminster.
the Historia Plantarum Universalis Oxoniensis, remained unfinished, with only one volume published in 1680 detailing fifteen classes of his classification system. It was entrusted by Oxford University to Jacob Bobart the Younger
, who on the death of his father Jacob Bobart the Elder
published a second and final instalment of the Historia in 1699 dealing with the remaining ten sections of herbaceous plants.
In around 1737, in a letter to Swiss naturalist Albrecht von Haller
, Carl Linnaeus wrote:
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...
botanist and taxonomist
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
. A forerunner of John Ray
John Ray
John Ray was an English naturalist, sometimes referred to as the father of English natural history. Until 1670, he wrote his name as John Wray. From then on, he used 'Ray', after "having ascertained that such had been the practice of his family before him".He published important works on botany,...
, he elucidated and developed the first systematic classification of plants.
Life
Born in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Morison was an outstanding scholar who gained his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree from the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
at the age of eighteen. During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
he joined the Royalist
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
s and was seriously wounded at the 1639 Battle of the Bridge of Dee
Bridge of Dee
The Bridge of Dee or Brig o' Dee is a road bridge over the River Dee in Aberdeen, Scotland. The term is also used for the surrounding area of the city. Dating from 1527, the bridge crosses at what was once the City of Aberdeen's southern boundary...
during the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. On recovering he fled to France when it became apparent that the cause was lost.
In 1648 he took a doctorate in medicine at the University of Angers
University of Angers
The University of Angers is an institution of higher learning situated in the town of the same name, in western France. It was founded in 1356, closed down in 1793, and reestablished in 1971....
in Western France and from then on devoted himself entirely to the study of Botany. He studied in Paris under the guidance of Vespasian Robin, Botanist to the King of France who introduced him to Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
. On Robin's recommendation Morison became director of the Royal Gardens at Blois
Blois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
, Central France, a post which he subsequently held for ten years.
In 1660, despite inducements to make him stay in France, Morison returned to England following the Restoration
Restoration (1660)
The term Restoration in reference to the year 1660 refers to the restoration of Charles II to his realms across the British Empire at that time.-England:...
and became physician to Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
as well as his botanist and superintendent of all the royal gardens with a salary of £200 per annum, and a free house.
Earlier in 1621, Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby
Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby
Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby, KG was an English soldier. Outlawed after a killing, he regained favour and became a Knight of the Garter.-Life:...
had given Oxford University 250 pounds for the purchase of land for a "Physic Garden". At the same time, the earl bequeathed "certain revenues" to fund a chair in botany at the university; in 1669 Morison became the first Professor of Botany, a post that he held until 1683.
In the year that he began teaching at Oxford, Morison published Praeludia Botanica, a work which stressed using the structure of a plant's fruits for classification. At the time, classification focused on the habitat and medicinal properties of the plant and Morison's criticism of systems promoted by botanists such as Jean and Gaspard Bauhin
Gaspard Bauhin
Gaspard Bauhin, or Caspar Bauhin , was a Swiss botanist who wrote Pinax theatri botanici , which described thousands of plants and classified them in a manner that draws comparisons to the later binomial nomenclature of Linnaeus...
caused some anger among his contemporaries. In the preface to his Plantarum Umbelliferarum Distributio Nova (1672), Morison gave a definitive statement of the principles of his method and was the first person ever to write a "monograph of a specific group of plants", the Umbelliferae.
Death
Morison was fatally injured by the pole of a carriage as he was crossing the street on 9 November 1683 and died the following day at his house in Green Street, Leicester-fields. He was buried in the church of St Martin-in-the-FieldsSt Martin-in-the-Fields
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.-Roman era:Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410...
, Westminster.
Legacy
At the time of his death, Morison's opus magnumOpus Magnum
Opus Magnum is the third album by Austrian melodic death metal band Hollenthon, released by Napalm Records in 2008. Limited edition digipack contains bonus track, "The Bazaar" and video clip for "Son of Perdition"....
the Historia Plantarum Universalis Oxoniensis, remained unfinished, with only one volume published in 1680 detailing fifteen classes of his classification system. It was entrusted by Oxford University to Jacob Bobart the Younger
Jacob Bobart the Younger
Jacob Bobart , the younger, was an English botanist.Bobart was the younger son of Jacob Bobart. He was born at Oxford 2 August 1641, succeeded his father as superintendent of the Physic Garden, and on the death of Dr. Morison in 1683 lectured as botanical professor...
, who on the death of his father Jacob Bobart the Elder
Jacob Bobart the Elder
Jacob Bobart or Bobert, the Elder was a German botanist who came to England to be the first head gardener of Oxford Botanic Garden.-Life:...
published a second and final instalment of the Historia in 1699 dealing with the remaining ten sections of herbaceous plants.
In around 1737, in a letter to Swiss naturalist Albrecht von Haller
Albrecht von Haller
Albrecht von Haller was a Swiss anatomist, physiologist, naturalist and poet.-Early life:He was born of an old Swiss family at Bern. Prevented by long-continued ill-health from taking part in boyish sports, he had the more opportunity for the development of his precocious mind...
, Carl Linnaeus wrote: