Thomas Johnson (botanist)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Johnson has been called "The Father of British Field Botany" but has been largely neglected, no doubt largely due to the very scanty records of his life which have survived. Such as there are, moreover, in any cases confuse rather than help the biographer, owing to the popularity of the name Thomas Johnson. He was probably born soon after 1600 and died in 1644.
Their first chapter is devoted to a list of Johnson's publications and of other
works to which the authors referred during their investigations.
account of Johnson's life and work. With regard to the date of
Johnson's birth (which almost certainly took place at Selby
in Yorkshire, although he is also said to have come from Barton on Humber) the authors are forced to admit that they have not advanced beyond the statement made by Trimen and Dyer in 1869, that "it was probably at the
beginning of the seventeenth century." His early years are equally obscure, and it is not until the first of his famous journeys (to Kent in 1629), when he was an apothecary practising at Snow Hill, in the City of London, that we obtain any clear picture of his activities. These journeys are here vividly described, and mention made of many of the plants found by him and his fellow apothecaries. The authors quote from the "somewhat free" account of the Kentish journeys which appeared in The Phytologist for 1848. Those interested in the byways of Victorian botanical literature might well read the whole of this article, and especially the severe editorial censure called forth by certain passages, harmless enough to our modem ears, on the refreshment taken by Johnson and his companions
during their journey (The Phytologist, 3, 125. 1848). From this date (1629) until the beginning of the Civil War, Johnson led an exceedingly active life, combining his practice as an apothecary with further botanical excursions, and the publication of those works on which his fame rests. In the Civil War he fought for the King and was mortally wounded in 1644 at the siege of Basing House
in which he distinguished himself by conspicuous bravery and of which the authors give an absorbing account compiled from contemporary reports.
Flora is reviewed and it is here that the authors make their most important
contribution to botanical history. Hitherto it has been generally accepted
that the first British Flora was How's Phytologia Britannica, published in 1650.
It is pointed out, however, that Johnson's Mercurius Botanicus (published in
two parts, 1634 and 1641) contains not only a list of the plants found by him
on his journeys in the West of England, but also an enumeration of all the
then known indigenous British plants, and that it should therefore displace
the Phytologia, which was largely compiled from it, as the first British Flora.
The fact that its claim has been so long overlooked is probably due to its
rarity, and subsequent historians have relied on the statement by Pulteney (who
only saw one part of the Mercurius) that How's was the first Flora of Britain.
Johnsonia
in honour of the subject of this biography.
The book is illustrated throughout by drawings and facsimile pages from
Johnson's works and deserves to be widely read by all interested in the history
of British Field Botany.--J. S. L. G.
's Herball, or general historie of plants first published in 1597 was enlarged by Thomas Johnson and published in 1633 and again in 1636. He included a list of Welsh plant names supplied by Robert Davies. "London: Printed by Adam Islip, Joice Norton and Richard Whitakers, anno 1636." The 1633 edition was issued in facsimile by Dover, New York, in 1975: "Complete 1633 edition, as revised and enlarged by Thomas Johnson. Reprint of the ed. printed by A. Islip, J. Norton, and R. Whitakers, London, under title, The herball, or Generall historie of plantes".
Thomas Shearman Ralph edited Johnson's tracts with the title Opuscula omnia botanica Thomae Johnsoni (Londini: Sumptibus Guliel. Pamplin, 1847):-
Iter plantarum investigationis ergo susceptum in agrum cantianum.--Descriptio itineris plantarum investigationis ergo suscepti, in agrum cantianum.-- Mercurius botanicus.--Thermae bathonicae.--Mercurii botanici pars altera.
Kew and Powell's account of Thomas Johnson
Kew and Powell (1932) describe him as a "learned, amiable, brave man."Their first chapter is devoted to a list of Johnson's publications and of other
works to which the authors referred during their investigations.
Life and work
The second chapter provides a chronologicalaccount of Johnson's life and work. With regard to the date of
Johnson's birth (which almost certainly took place at Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
in Yorkshire, although he is also said to have come from Barton on Humber) the authors are forced to admit that they have not advanced beyond the statement made by Trimen and Dyer in 1869, that "it was probably at the
beginning of the seventeenth century." His early years are equally obscure, and it is not until the first of his famous journeys (to Kent in 1629), when he was an apothecary practising at Snow Hill, in the City of London, that we obtain any clear picture of his activities. These journeys are here vividly described, and mention made of many of the plants found by him and his fellow apothecaries. The authors quote from the "somewhat free" account of the Kentish journeys which appeared in The Phytologist for 1848. Those interested in the byways of Victorian botanical literature might well read the whole of this article, and especially the severe editorial censure called forth by certain passages, harmless enough to our modem ears, on the refreshment taken by Johnson and his companions
during their journey (The Phytologist, 3, 125. 1848). From this date (1629) until the beginning of the Civil War, Johnson led an exceedingly active life, combining his practice as an apothecary with further botanical excursions, and the publication of those works on which his fame rests. In the Civil War he fought for the King and was mortally wounded in 1644 at the siege of Basing House
Siege of Basing House
The siege of Basing House near Basingstoke in Hampshire, was a Parliamentarian victory late in the First English Civil War. Whereas the title of the event may suggest a single siege, there were in fact three major engagements...
in which he distinguished himself by conspicuous bravery and of which the authors give an absorbing account compiled from contemporary reports.
Study of the British flora
In the third chapter Johnson's place in the investigation of the BritishFlora is reviewed and it is here that the authors make their most important
contribution to botanical history. Hitherto it has been generally accepted
that the first British Flora was How's Phytologia Britannica, published in 1650.
It is pointed out, however, that Johnson's Mercurius Botanicus (published in
two parts, 1634 and 1641) contains not only a list of the plants found by him
on his journeys in the West of England, but also an enumeration of all the
then known indigenous British plants, and that it should therefore displace
the Phytologia, which was largely compiled from it, as the first British Flora.
The fact that its claim has been so long overlooked is probably due to its
rarity, and subsequent historians have relied on the statement by Pulteney (who
only saw one part of the Mercurius) that How's was the first Flora of Britain.
Conclusion
The final chapter discusses the various genera which have been namedJohnsonia
Johnsonia
Johnsonia was a publication of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University from 1941-1975. It was founded by William J. Clench who named it after Charles W. Johnson who had been one of the men who convinced Clench to pursue the study of molluscs...
in honour of the subject of this biography.
The book is illustrated throughout by drawings and facsimile pages from
Johnson's works and deserves to be widely read by all interested in the history
of British Field Botany.--J. S. L. G.
Johnson's works
John GerardJohn Gerard
John Gerard aka John Gerarde was an English herbalist notable for his herbal garden and botany writing. In 1597 he published a large and heavily illustrated "Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes", which went on to be the most widely circulated botany book in English in the 17th century...
's Herball, or general historie of plants first published in 1597 was enlarged by Thomas Johnson and published in 1633 and again in 1636. He included a list of Welsh plant names supplied by Robert Davies. "London: Printed by Adam Islip, Joice Norton and Richard Whitakers, anno 1636." The 1633 edition was issued in facsimile by Dover, New York, in 1975: "Complete 1633 edition, as revised and enlarged by Thomas Johnson. Reprint of the ed. printed by A. Islip, J. Norton, and R. Whitakers, London, under title, The herball, or Generall historie of plantes".
Thomas Shearman Ralph edited Johnson's tracts with the title Opuscula omnia botanica Thomae Johnsoni (Londini: Sumptibus Guliel. Pamplin, 1847):-
Iter plantarum investigationis ergo susceptum in agrum cantianum.--Descriptio itineris plantarum investigationis ergo suscepti, in agrum cantianum.-- Mercurius botanicus.--Thermae bathonicae.--Mercurii botanici pars altera.