Samuel Hailstone facts for kids

Samuel Hailstone (1768–1851) was an English botanist. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. He was known for his deep knowledge of the plants found in Yorkshire, England.

Early Life and Career

Samuel Hailstone was born in 1768 in Hoxton, a place near London. His family soon moved to York. As a young man, Samuel trained to become a lawyer. He worked for John Hardy, a lawyer in Bradford. After his training, he became a partner in Hardy's law firm.

Even though his job as a lawyer kept him very busy, Samuel spent his free time studying plants. He became a top expert on the plants growing in the Yorkshire area.

His Contributions to Science

Samuel Hailstone didn't just study plants; he also collected things that showed the geology of the area. Geology is the study of Earth's rocks and soil. He also collected many books and old handwritten documents about Bradford.

He wrote articles for a science magazine called the Magazine of Natural History. He also created a list of rare plants for a book called History of Craven.

One of his most important collections was his herbarium. A herbarium is a collection of dried and pressed plants. After he passed away, his sons gave this valuable collection to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. Today, you can find it in the museum in York.

Family Life

Samuel Hailstone had a brother named John Hailstone, who was a geologist. In 1808, Samuel married Ann Jones. She was the daughter of Thomas Jones, a surgeon from Bradford. Ann passed away in 1833 when she was 53 years old.

Samuel Hailstone died on December 26, 1851, at Horton Hall in Bradford. He was 83 years old. He had two sons, John and Edward.

Edward Hailstone's Legacy

His son, Edward Hailstone (1818–1890), followed in his father's footsteps and became a lawyer in Bradford. Later, Edward moved to Walton Hall. There, he gathered an amazing collection of old items and books. He had the largest collection of works about Yorkshire ever put together. He left this collection to the library of the dean and chapter in York.

Edward Hailstone passed away in 1890. He also published a book of Portraits of Yorkshire Worthies, which included short biographies of important people from Yorkshire.