Sir JE Smith

Engraving from 'The Gentleman's Magazine'. Sir James Edward Smith (1759 - 1828) was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society. 'He trained in medicine and botany; lecturer in botany at Guy's Hospital, London, 1788-1796. Purchased Linnaeus' collections in 1784. Founded the Linnean Society in 1788 and was President until 1828. Published widely on Australian plants, of particular note being his contributions to John White's Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales (1790), his own A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland... (1793-1795) and 3348 articles in Rees' Cyclopaedia (1802-1820). Smith's herbarium contained collections by many others, including the following of particular importance to Australia: R.Brown, J.J.H. de Labillardiere, C.Linnaeus, A.Menzies and J.White.' Ref : Australian National Herbarium / A.E.Orchard (1999) A History of Systematic Botany in Australia, in Flora of Australia Vol.1, 2nd ed., ABRS. Very faint off-setting, a couple of very faint spots. Some marks / stains outside the platemark. Binding holes along right hand side platemark. REF : AUSPORT