Charles Alston (botanist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Alston
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| Born | 1683 Hamilton, Lanarkshire
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| Died | 22 November 1760 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany |
Charles Alston (1683 – 22 November 1760) was a Scottish botanist. He spent his life studying plants. He became a very important person at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. He helped us learn a lot about how plants grow and how they can be used.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charles Alston was born in 1683 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. It seems he was raised by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton. This would have given him a good start in life.
In 1715, he traveled to Leyden in the Netherlands. There, he studied with a famous Dutch doctor named Hermann Boerhaave. This training helped him become an expert in medicine and plants.
Career in Botany
When Charles Alston returned to Scotland, he became a teacher. He taught about materia medica and botany in Edinburgh. Materia medica is the study of how plants can be used as medicines. Botany is the scientific study of plants.
He also became the head of the botanical gardens. This was a very important job. He was in charge of the garden from 1716 until he died in 1760.
Plant Classification Ideas
Charles Alston had his own ideas about how to group plants. He did not agree with the system created by another famous scientist, Carl Linnaeus. Linnaeus's system is still used today. However, Alston believed his own way of classifying plants was better.
Legacy and Recognition
Charles Alston passed away on November 22, 1760. He is buried in Canongate Kirkyard in Edinburgh. This graveyard is near the famous Royal Mile.
His work was so important that a whole group of trees was named after him. The tree genus Alstonia is a lasting tribute to his contributions to botany.
