Curtis William

Photo Curtis William
William Curtis (11 January 1746 – 7 July 1799) was an English botanist and entomologist, who was born at Alton, Hampshire. Curtis began as an apothecary, before turning his attention to botany and other natural history. The publications he prepared effectively reached a wider audience than early works on the subject had intended. [1] At the age of 25 he produced Instructions for collecting and preserving insects; particularly moths and butterflies.[2] Curtis was demonstrator of plants and Praefectus Horti at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1771 to 1777. He established his own London Botanic Garden at Lambeth in 1779, moving to Brompton in 1789. He published Flora Londinensis (6 volumes, 1777–1798), a pioneering work in that it devoted itself to urban nature. Financial success was not found, but he went on the publish The Botanical Magazine in 1787, a work that would also feature hand coloured plates by artists such as James Sowerby, Sydenham Edwards, and William Kilburn. Curtis was to gain wealth from the ventures into publishing, short sales on Londinensis were offset by over 3,000 copies of the magazine. Curtis said they had each brought 'pudding or praise'. The genus Curtisia is named in his honour. His publication was continued as the esteemed botanical publication, Curtis's Botanical Magazine. The noted natural history illustrators, James Sowerby and Sydenham Edwards both found a start with the eminent magazine. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Curtis when citing a botanical name.[3]
add to favoritesadd

What readers are saying

What do you think? Write your own comment on this book!

write a comment

What readers are saying

What do you think? Write your own comment on this author!

write a comment

What readers are saying

What do you think? Write your own comment on this author!

write a comment

What do you think? Write your own comment on this author

Info about the author

Name:

Curtis William

Born:

Influences:

none

Avg raiting:

1.25/5 (107)

Books:

16 books | 0 series

What readers are saying

What do you think? Write your own comment on this author!

write a comment

Do you want to read a book that interests you? It’s EASY!

Create an account and send a request for reading to other users on the Webpage of the book!