James Donn facts for kids

James Donn (1758–1813) was an English botanist and gardener. He was a very important person in the world of plants. He worked at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden for many years.

Donn is best known for his book, Hortus Cantabrigiensis. This book was a huge list of plants. It helped many people learn about different plants.

Who Was James Donn?

James Donn was born in 1758. He grew up to become an expert in plants. A botanist studies plants. A gardener helps plants grow. Donn was both!

He learned a lot from William Aiton. Aiton was a famous gardener too. He was even helped by Sir Joseph Banks. Banks was a very important scientist.

Working at Cambridge Botanic Garden

In 1790, James Donn became the Curator of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. A curator is like a manager. They take care of a collection. In this case, it was a collection of plants.

Donn worked at the garden until he died in 1813. He helped the garden grow and become famous. He made sure many different plants were cared for there.

His Famous Book: Hortus Cantabrigiensis

James Donn's most important work was his book. It was called Hortus Cantabrigiensis. This means "Cambridge Garden" in Latin. The first version came out in 1796.

What Was the Book About?

The book was a detailed list of all the plants. It included plants growing in the Cambridge Botanic Garden. It also listed plants that could be grown in the area.

It was like a plant encyclopedia. It helped other botanists and gardeners. They could learn about new plants and how to care for them.

Many Editions of the Book

The book was very popular. It was updated and printed many times. New versions came out even after Donn passed away. The last one was printed in 1845.

A copy of his book is kept at Harvard University. This shows how important his work was.

Recognitions and Legacy

James Donn was respected by other scientists. In 1812, he became a Fellow of the Linnean Society. This is a special group for natural scientists. It shows he was a top expert.

His work helped people understand plants better. His book was a guide for many years. It helped spread knowledge about plants.

Family Connection

James Donn had a grandson. His grandson was William Sterndale Bennett. He became a famous English composer. A composer writes music.

A special memorial for James Donn is in Cambridge. It is at St Edward the Martyr's church. This shows that people remembered his important work.