James Anderson (botanist)
Dr James Anderson (1738–1809) was an 18th century Scottish physician and botanist. In 1783 he was a joint founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He spent his later life in India.
Life
He was born on 17 January 1738 in Long Hermiston, west of Edinburgh. the son of Dr Andrew Anderson, the local physician.[1] He was educated locally at Ratho school then studied Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.[1][2]
Anderson became an East India Company naval surgeon in 1759, and moved to the Madras Presidency in 1765. He was made surgeon-general of Madras in 1781, and ultimately physician-general.[2]
Interested in horticulture, Anderson brought mulberry trees to Madras, and experimented with making silk. He introduced apple trees also, and sought to produce local cochineal.[2]
Botanical reference
William Roxburgh (1751–1815) named the genus Andersonia after him.
References
- 1 2 "Memoirs of Dr James Anderson physician at Madras", in The Bee, or Literary weekly intelligencer, Edinburgh, May 9, 1792, p. 16
- 1 2 3 Desmond, Ray. "Anderson, James (1738–1809)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/476. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ IPNI. Anderson.
- 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 (London). ISBN 0-85066-843-3
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