Arthur Henfrey (botanist) facts for kids
Arthur Henfrey (born November 1, 1819 – died September 7, 1859) was an English surgeon and a brilliant botanist. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He made important contributions to understanding plants during his time.
Arthur Henfrey's Life
Arthur Henfrey was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on November 1, 1819, to English parents. He first studied medicine and surgery at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London. In 1843, he became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. However, because of poor health, he had to stop his medical career.
In 1847, Henfrey started teaching about plants at the medical school of St. George's Hospital. Later, in 1853, he took over the main botany position at King's College London. He also worked as an examiner for natural history at the Royal Military Academy and the Society of Arts.
Arthur Henfrey was recognized for his work by important scientific groups. He became an associate of the Linnean Society in 1843, and then a full fellow the next year. The Linnean Society is one of the oldest societies in the world dedicated to the study of natural history. In 1852, he was also chosen as a fellow of the Royal Society. The Royal Society is a very famous group of scientists.
Henfrey passed away in Turnham Green on September 7, 1859.
Arthur Henfrey's Works
Arthur Henfrey wrote many books and articles about plants and science. He also helped translate important scientific works from other languages into English. This helped share new ideas with more people.
Some of the books he wrote include:
- Anatomical Manipulations, written in 1844 with Alfred Tulk. This book was about how to prepare and study parts of the body.
- Outlines of Structural and Physiological Botany, published in 1847. This book explained the structure and functions of plants.
- The Rudiments of Botany, first published in 1849. This was a basic guide to botany.
- The Vegetation of Europe, its Conditions and Causes, published in 1852. This book looked at the plants found across Europe and why they grew where they did.
- An Elementary Course of Botany, published in 1857. This was another important textbook for learning about plants.
He also translated several key scientific books, including:
- On Vegetable Cells by Carl von Nägeli in 1846. This helped English readers learn about plant cells.
- The Plant by Matthias Schleiden in 1848. Schleiden was a very important scientist who helped develop the cell theory.
Henfrey also helped edit scientific journals and dictionaries, such as:
- The Botanical Gazette, starting in 1849.
- The Micrographic Dictionary in 1854, which he worked on with John William Griffith. This dictionary was about tiny things seen through a microscope.
Family
Arthur Henfrey married Elizabeth Anne Henry. She was the oldest daughter of Jabez Henry. Elizabeth lived for more than 40 years after Arthur passed away. She died at the age of 86 in 1902. Their son was Henry William Henfrey, who became known for studying old coins (a numismatist).
