His Majesty's Botanist facts for kids
His Majesty's Botanist is a special job in the Royal household in Scotland. Think of it as a very important person who advises the King or Queen about plants!
What is His Majesty's Botanist?
This unique role is part of the people who work for the King or Queen in Scotland. The person holding this title is an expert in plants, also known as a botanist.
A Look at the History
The job of His Majesty's Botanist was first created a long time ago, in 1699. For many years, from 1768 until 1956, this role was combined with two other important jobs:
- The Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: This is the person in charge of the famous Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.
- The Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Edinburgh: This is a special professor who teaches about plants at the University of Edinburgh.
Since 1956, the job of His Majesty's Botanist has become an honorary title. This means it's a special award given to someone as an honor, rather than a job with daily duties. It is usually given to someone who is currently or used to be the Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden.
People Who Held the Role
Many talented botanists have held the title of His Majesty's Botanist over the centuries. Here is a list of some of them:
- 1699: James Sutherland
- 1715: Dr William Arthur
- 1716: Charles Alston
- 1761: Dr John Hope
- 1786: Daniel Rutherford MD
- 1820: Robert Graham MD
- 1845: John Hutton Balfour MD
- 1880: Alexander Dickson MD LLD
- 1888: Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour
- 1922: Prof. Sir William Wright Smith (d 1956)
- 1966: Harold Roy Fletcher (d 1978)
- 1987: Prof. Douglas Mackay Henderson
- 2010: Prof Stephen Blackmore
