William Wright (botanist)
Encyclopedia
William Wright was a Scottish physician and botanist.
Born in March 1735 in Crieff
, Perthshire
, he studied at Crieff Grammar School and the University of Edinburgh
, and obtained a medical degree at St. Andrews (MD 1763). He served as an apprentice with G Dennistoun in Falkirk
(1752-6), and became a navy surgeon in 1760.
In 1764 Wright became Dr Gray's assistant in Jamaica
. He stayed on the island until 1777.
William Wright became a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1778 . He was a member in numerous societies, among them the Linnean Society of London
of which he became associate member in 1807; the Wernerian Natural History Society
in 1808, of which he was a founding member; the London Royal School of Medicine
, over which he presided in 1801.
He enrolled in the British Navy in 1779 and was captured by the French.
He returned to Jamaica in 1782 and the following year became Physician in Chief of the colony. He returned to Edinburgh in 1785. He joined an expedition led by Sir Ralph Abercromby
(1734–1801) exploring the Caribbean from 1796 to 1798.
Wright published numerous articles in medicine. His Jamaican collections became an important contribution to natural history
. Notably, he described more than 750 plant species.
The genus Wrightia
(Apocynaceae
) and Wrightea (syn. Wallichia
, Arecaceae
) were dedicated to him. Wrightia
was by Robert Brown (1773–1858) and Wrightea by William Roxburgh
(1759–1815).
Several hundred plant species were named for him.
Born in March 1735 in Crieff
Crieff
Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, he studied at Crieff Grammar School and 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...
, and obtained a medical degree at St. Andrews (MD 1763). He served as an apprentice with G Dennistoun in Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
(1752-6), and became a navy surgeon in 1760.
In 1764 Wright became Dr Gray's assistant in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. He stayed on the island until 1777.
William Wright became a Fellow of the Royal Society
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"...
in 1778 . He was a member in numerous societies, among them the Linnean Society of London
Linnean Society of London
The Linnean Society of London is the world's premier society for the study and dissemination of taxonomy and natural history. It publishes a zoological journal, as well as botanical and biological journals...
of which he became associate member in 1807; the Wernerian Natural History Society
Wernerian Natural History Society
The Wernerian Natural History Society , commonly abbreviated as the Wernerian Society, was a learned society interested in the broad field of natural history, and saw papers presented on various topics such as mineralogy, plants, insects, and scholarly expeditions...
in 1808, of which he was a founding member; the London Royal School of Medicine
Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry is the medical school of Queen Mary, University of London. The school was formed in 1995 by the merger of the London Hospital Medical College , the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital Barts and The London School of Medicine and...
, over which he presided in 1801.
He enrolled in the British Navy in 1779 and was captured by the French.
He returned to Jamaica in 1782 and the following year became Physician in Chief of the colony. He returned to Edinburgh in 1785. He joined an expedition led by Sir Ralph Abercromby
Ralph Abercromby
Sir Ralph Abercromby was a Scottish soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.He twice served as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire, and was...
(1734–1801) exploring the Caribbean from 1796 to 1798.
Wright published numerous articles in medicine. His Jamaican collections became an important contribution to natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
. Notably, he described more than 750 plant species.
The genus Wrightia
Wrightia
Wrightia is a genus of 23 species of flowering plants in the Apocynaceae family, native to tropical Africa, Asia and Australia...
(Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs...
) and Wrightea (syn. Wallichia
Wallichia
Wallichia is a genus of seven species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family. The genus is distributed in the Eastern Himalayas and southern China.It contains the following species:* Wallichia triandra...
, Arecaceae
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
) were dedicated to him. Wrightia
Wrightia
Wrightia is a genus of 23 species of flowering plants in the Apocynaceae family, native to tropical Africa, Asia and Australia...
was by Robert Brown (1773–1858) and Wrightea by William Roxburgh
William Roxburgh
William Roxburgh was a Scottish surgeon and botanist. He has been called the Father of Indian Botany.-Early life:Roxburgh was born at Underwood in the parish of Craigie, Ayrshire. He studied medicine in Edinburgh...
(1759–1815).
Several hundred plant species were named for him.
Source
- Ray Desmond (1994). Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists including Plant Collectors, Flower Painters and Garden Designers. Taylor & Francis and The Natural History Museum (Londres).