James Sherard facts for kids

James Sherard (born November 1, 1666 – died February 12, 1738) was an English man who had many talents! He was an apothecary (like a pharmacist), a botanist (someone who studies plants), and even a musician who played for fun.

James Sherard's Life and Work

Early Life and Training

James Sherard was born in Bushby, a small place in Leicestershire, England. His parents were George and Mary Sherwood. It's a bit of a mystery why his family's last name changed to Sherard.

He had an older brother named William Sherard, who also became a famous botanist. James might have gone to Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood, just like his brother. However, his name isn't on the school's official student list.

When he was about 15, on February 7, 1682, James began training to be an apothecary. He learned from Charles Watts, who was in charge of the Chelsea Physic Garden. This garden was a special place for growing medicinal plants. After learning a lot from Watts, James moved to London and started his own very successful business. In 1706, he became a member of the Royal Society, a group for important scientists.

A Passion for Music

Through his brother William, James Sherard met Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford. William had once been a teacher for the Duke's family. James dedicated his first set of trio sonatas (music for three instruments) to the Duke in 1701.

These musical pieces were printed in Amsterdam and were inspired by Italian sonatas, especially those by a famous composer named Arcangelo Corelli. James might have even played the violin in the first performance of his music. He likely played alongside the Duke's two Italian musicians: Nicola Francesco Haym on the cello and Nicola Cosimi on the violin.

One copy of his music was owned by another apothecary, William Salter. He wrote notes in the margins, saying that James Sherard was friends with the famous composer George Frideric Handel. This makes sense because both Sherard and Handel knew Nicola Francesco Haym. James published a second set of trio sonatas in 1711. Both sets of his music are kept safe in the Bodleian Library, a large library in England. His collection includes rare German church music.

Turning to Botany

Around 1711, when James finished his second set of sonatas, the Duke of Bedford passed away. It seems James's interest in music faded after that. He also became ill with gout, which made it hard for him to play the violin.

So, he started focusing on plants instead! In 1716, he wrote that "the love of Botany has so far prevailed." This meant that studying plants had become more important to him than anything else.

By the 1720s, James retired from his business in London. He had earned a lot of money and was quite wealthy. He bought two large estates in Leicestershire and a property in Eltham, near London. This is where he spent most of his time.

Developing a Famous Garden

At his home in Eltham, James started collecting many rare plants. Even though he wasn't in perfect health, he traveled to other parts of Europe to find new seeds for his garden. Soon, his garden became known as one of the best in England.

In 1721, his brother William brought a German botanist named Johann Jacob Dillenius to England. Dillenius was there to help with a new version of a plant catalog from 1623. In 1732, James published a book by Dillenius that showed and described all the plants in his Eltham garden.

A historian named Blanche Henrey said this book was "the most important book to be published in England during the eighteenth century on the plants growing in a private garden." It was also very important for understanding plants from South Africa, especially the succulents (plants that store water) from the Cape Province. The actual dried plant samples from James's garden are now kept at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1728, James's brother William died. James was in charge of carrying out William's wishes from his will. William had left money to create a special teaching position for botany at the University of Oxford. This position is called the Sherardian Professorship of Botany. James successfully made sure this happened.

Following William's will, Johann Jacob Dillenius, the botanist who cataloged James's garden, became the very first Sherardian Professor. For all his hard work in setting up this professorship, the University of Oxford gave James Sherard a special doctorate degree in medicine in 1731.

When James Sherard died in 1738, he had a large fortune. He was survived by his wife, Susanna, but they did not have any children. He was buried in the church at Evington in Leicestershire.