Lilly Wigg facts for kids

Lilly Wigg (born December 25, 1749 – died March 28, 1828) was an English botanist. He was especially known for his deep interest in seaweed. Wigg spent his life studying plants and contributing to the knowledge of botany in his time.

Early Life and Education

Lilly Wigg was born in a village called Smallburgh in Norfolk, England, on December 25, 1749. His father was a shoemaker. Lilly received a good education in his village. He learned his father's trade, but he also had many other skills.

Before he turned twenty, Wigg moved to Great Yarmouth. There, he ran a small school until 1801. He was very smart and learned several languages, including Latin, Greek, and French. He was also excellent at math and had beautiful handwriting.

A Passion for Plants

Lilly Wigg had a great love for botany, which is the study of plants. He was very skilled at finding and collecting plant samples. His passion for plants helped him meet many important botanists of his time. These included Dr. John Aikin, Thomas Jenkinson Woodward, Sir James Edward Smith, and Dawson Turner.

Wigg was particularly fascinated by seaweed. He spent a lot of time collecting different types of seaweed from the beaches. He carefully built up a large collection of these marine plants.

Later Career and Discoveries

In 1801, Dawson Turner offered Wigg a job as a clerk. He started working at Gurneys & Turner's bank in Yarmouth. Wigg stayed at this job for the rest of his life. Even with his bank job, he continued his botanical studies.

For almost twenty years, Wigg worked on a big project. He was gathering information for a book about edible plants. Some of his handwritten notes are now kept at the British Museum. Another manuscript, called Flora Cibaria, is at Kew Gardens. This book contained interesting facts about plants from travel books. Besides plants, Wigg also studied the birds and fish found along the Norfolk coast.

Recognition and Legacy

Lilly Wigg's hard work and knowledge were recognized by other scientists. In 1790, he became an associate of the Linnean Society of London. This is a very respected group for natural history.

Sir James Edward Smith, a famous botanist, praised Wigg's contributions. Smith said Wigg was a "most ingenious and accurate observer." He also noted Wigg's skill in finding and preserving marine algae. Wigg also helped William Withering with his important book, Botanical Arrangement.

Dawson Turner, another botanist and his employer, even named a type of seaweed after him. It was called Fucus Wigghii, which is now known as Naccaria Wigghii. This shows how much his work was valued.

Lilly Wigg passed away in Great Yarmouth on March 28, 1828. His dedication to botany left a lasting mark on the study of plants, especially seaweed.