John Martyn (botanist) facts for kids
John Martyn (born September 12, 1699 – died January 29, 1768) was an English botanist, which means he was a scientist who studied plants. He was known for his important work in understanding and describing different kinds of plants.
Life of a Plant Expert
John Martyn was born in London, England. His father was a merchant, someone who bought and sold goods. When John was 16, he started working for his father, planning to follow in his footsteps in business.
However, John soon became very interested in plants and medicine. He met an apothecary (like a pharmacist) named John Wilmer and a surgeon-apothecary named Dr. Patrick Blair. These new friends helped spark John's passion for botany. He decided to leave his business career behind to study plants and medicine instead.
In 1721 and 1726, John Martyn gave talks about botany in London. His knowledge was so impressive that in 1727, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is a very old and respected group of scientists.
John Martyn also helped start a special group for botanists. They would meet at the Rainbow coffee-house in London to discuss plants. He was the secretary of this group for a few years.
Becoming a Professor
In 1732, John Martyn was given an important job: Professor of Botany at Cambridge University. This meant he was in charge of teaching students about plants there. However, he found it hard to teach because there wasn't much support or equipment for botany at the university at that time. So, he stopped giving lectures fairly soon.
Even though he stopped lecturing, he remained the Professor of Botany until 1768. When he retired, his son, Thomas, took over the role. John gave many of his plant specimens (dried plants for study) and books to Cambridge University.
John Martyn had a son named Thomas Martyn (1735–1825) who also became a famous botanist. Thomas wrote books about plants, including one called Flora rustica.
John Martyn lived in Chelsea, where he practiced as a physician, even though he didn't have a medical degree. He passed away in Chelsea in 1768. His son Thomas later wrote a book about his father's life and work.
John Martyn's Contributions
John Martyn is remembered for several important works that helped people learn more about plants and farming.
His most famous work is Historia Plantarum Rariorum, which means "History of Rare Plants." This book was published between 1728 and 1737 and included beautiful pictures drawn by an artist named Jacob van Huysum.
He also translated two famous poems by the Roman poet Virgil, called the Eclogues (1749) and Georgics (1741). These poems were about farming and country life, and John Martyn added his own helpful notes about agriculture and botany to them. These translations continued to be printed even after he died.
John Martyn also worked with Ephraim Chambers, who wrote a very famous encyclopedia called Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. Together, they shortened and translated a book about the French Royal Academy of Sciences, which was published in 1742.
He also helped start a weekly newspaper called the Grub Street Journal. This newspaper was a bit like a funny, critical review of things happening in London and was published from 1730 to 1737.
