Daniel Oliver (botanist) facts for kids
Daniel Oliver (born February 6, 1830, in Newcastle upon Tyne – died December 21, 1916) was an important English botanist. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He spent many years working with plants and teaching others about them.
Contents
What Did Daniel Oliver Do?
Daniel Oliver had several big jobs during his life. He worked at the famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which is a huge garden and research center for plants.
His Work at Kew Gardens
From 1860 to 1890, Daniel Oliver was the Librarian of the Herbarium at Kew. A herbarium is like a library for dried plant specimens. He then became the Keeper of the Herbarium from 1864 to 1890. This meant he was in charge of the plant collections and research there.
Teaching at University College, London
Besides his work at Kew, Oliver was also a Professor of Botany at University College, London. He taught students about plants from 1861 to 1888.
Writing Books for Young People
In 1864, Daniel Oliver published a book called Lessons in Elementary Botany. This book was special because it was based on notes from another botanist, John Stevens Henslow. Henslow's daughter, Anne Henslow Barnard, drew the pictures for the book.
Oliver believed this book was perfect for students in schools. He also thought it would help young people who couldn't go to a classroom or laboratory to learn about plants. The book was so popular that it was reprinted many times until at least 1891!
Awards and Recognition
Daniel Oliver was a respected scientist. He became a member of the Linnean Society of London, which is a famous group for natural history. In 1893, he received their Gold Medal, a very high honor. He also received a Royal Medal from the Royal Society in 1884. The Royal Society is one of the oldest and most important scientific organizations in the world.
Daniel Oliver's Family
In 1861, Daniel Oliver got married. He had two daughters and a son named Francis Wall Oliver, who also became a famous botanist!
His Legacy: A Plant Named After Him
In 1895, another botanist named Tiegh honored Daniel Oliver by naming a new group of plants after him. This group of flowering plants, found in East Africa, is called Oliverella. It's a cool way to remember his contributions to botany!
Daniel Oliver passed away on December 21, 1916, at his home in Kew Green.
