Overview
This lecture provides an overview of George Bentham's life, career, major contributions to botany, and his impact on plant taxonomy.
Early Life and Education
- George Bentham was born on September 22, 1800, in Stoke, Plymouth, England.
- He was the son of Sir Samuel Bentham, a naval architect, and Mary Sophia Bentham.
- Bentham had no formal schooling but displayed remarkable linguistic skills, learning several languages as a child.
- He became interested in botany at age 17 while living in France.
Career and Contributions
- Initially studied law and was called to the bar in 1831 but soon switched to botany.
- Became secretary of the Horticultural Society of London (1829–1840).
- Joined Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and worked there extensively on plant taxonomy.
- Developed an interest in plant classification after studying de Candolle’s works.
Achievements and Honors
- President of the Linnean Society (1861–1874).
- Elected Fellow of the Royal Society (1862), received the Royal Medal (1859).
- Awarded Companion of St. Michael and St. George (1878) and the Clarke Medal (1879).
- Elected foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1866).
Major Works
- Published "Catalogue des Plantes indigènes des Pyrénées" in 1826.
- Outlined "A New System of Logic," introducing the quantification of the predicate.
- "Labiatarum Genera et Species" (1832–1836) was a key publication on the mint family.
- Authored "Flora Hongkongensis" (1861) and "Flora Australiensis" (1863–1878), significant works on regional floras.
- Co-authored "Genera Plantarum" (1862–1883) with Joseph Dalton Hooker, a foundational work in plant classification.
- Authored "Handbook of the British Flora," widely used by students.
Impact on Botany
- Known for the Bentham and Hooker system of plant classification, especially of angiosperms.
- Promoted the concept of evolution in taxonomy after initially resisting Darwin's ideas.
- Built and donated a massive herbarium to Kew, greatly aiding botanical research.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Taxonomy — the science of classifying organisms.
- Herbarium — a collection of preserved plant specimens.
- Linnean Society — a society dedicated to natural history.
- Angiosperms — flowering plants whose seeds are enclosed within a fruit.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the Bentham and Hooker classification system.
- Read about "Genera Plantarum" and its influence on modern plant taxonomy.
- Study Bentham’s contributions to regional floras, especially "Flora Australiensis".