Richard Pulteney facts for kids
Richard Pulteney (born February 17, 1730 – died October 13, 1801) was an English doctor and a very keen botanist. He was a big supporter of Carl Linnaeus's way of classifying plants and animals. He even wrote the first book in English about Linnaeus's work, called A General View of the Writings of Linnaeus. He was also a member of important groups like the Royal Society of London.
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The Early Life of Richard Pulteney
Richard Pulteney was born in Loughborough, England, on February 17, 1730. He was the only one of thirteen children to survive. His father, Samuel Pulteney, was a tailor, and his mother was Mary Tomlinson. His family had strong religious beliefs.
Richard's uncle, George Tomlinson, helped him fall in love with nature and plants from a young age.
Richard Pulteney's Education and Career
Richard went to Loughborough Grammar School. Later, a house at the school was named after him. He first trained as an apothecary in Loughborough. An apothecary was like a pharmacist and doctor all in one.
After this, he went to Edinburgh University in Scotland to study medicine. He earned his medical degree in 1764. For some years, he worked as a doctor in Leicestershire. Then, he became the personal doctor for a distant relative, William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath, in London.
In 1762, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. This is a very old and respected group for scientists.
Life in Blandford
When the Earl of Bath passed away in 1764, Richard Pulteney moved to Blandford in Dorset. He lived there for the rest of his life. In 1767, he officially became the village doctor. Blandford was a quiet, rural town, which gave him lots of free time. He used this time to study nature even more.
In 1779, when he was 49, he married Elizabeth Galton. They did not have their own children, but they cared for one of Elizabeth's nieces as if she were their daughter.
In 1793, he was also chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This was another important scientific group.
Richard Pulteney died in Blandford, Dorset, on October 13, 1801. He was buried in the churchyard at Langton Herring. A special plaque was put up in Blandford church to remember him. He left his collection of dried plants, called a Hortus Siccus, and his many plant books to the Linnean Society. This society is dedicated to the study of plants and animals.
Remembering Richard Pulteney
A picture of Richard Pulteney, made by James Basire, is kept at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
