Thomas Gery Cullum facts for kids
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Sir Thomas Gery Cullum (born 1741, died 1831) was an important medical doctor. He was also known as the 7th Baronet. He studied at London Charterhouse and Trinity College, Cambridge. Later, he worked as a surgeon in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He also helped lead the town as an alderman and a Deputy Lieutenant for Suffolk.
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About Sir Thomas Gery Cullum
Sir Thomas Gery Cullum was the son of Sir John Cullum, 5th Baronet. His family lived at Hardwick House in Suffolk. His older brother, Sir Sir John Cullum, 6th Baronet (1733–1785), was famous for writing about the history of Hawstead.
Thomas Gery Cullum became the 7th Baronet in 1785. He was a respected writer about science and plants. He became a member of several important groups, including the Royal Society, the Society of Antiquaries of London, and the Linnaean Society. He was suggested to join the Royal Society in 1787.
Sir Thomas also held a special role called Bath King of Arms from 1771 to 1800. This was a ceremonial job related to a special order of knights. His son, John Palmer Cullum, took over this role in 1800. Together, they held the position for almost 60 years!
Sir Thomas Gery Cullum is buried in the church at Hawstead, Suffolk. Many of his family members are also buried there. This church has many monuments to the people who have passed away.
Hardwick House: Sir Thomas's Home
Sir Thomas Gery Cullum lived at Hardwick House. This was a large house built in the Jacobean style. It stood on land that used to be used for grazing animals by St. Edmundsbury Abbey.
The Cullum family owned Hardwick House for a very long time. They bought it in 1656. The first Baronet, Sir Thomas Cullum, was a wealthy London draper. He was a Royalist, meaning he supported the King. He became a Baronet when the King returned to power. The family owned the house until 1921.
The Cullum family had a huge library filled with books. They were also very interested in the history of their local area. They even wrote several books about the history of Hawstead and Hardwick. When the Hardwick Estate was sold, most of their amazing book collection was given to the Bury Record Office.
Hardwick House was a grand place. It even had a special indoor riding school. The house was torn down in 1921. This happened after the last Cullum family member, George Gery Milner-Gibson Cullum, passed away without any children.
Today, the land where Hardwick House once stood is a public park called Hardwick Heath. It covers about 55 acres. The West Suffolk Hospital and other buildings are also on parts of the old estate. The exact spot where the house was is now a wood. Some original Cedar and Yew trees still grow there.
Sir Thomas's Legacy
Sir Thomas Gery Cullum was highly respected for his knowledge of plants. A famous botanist named Sir James Edward Smith dedicated his book, English Flora, to Sir Thomas in 1824. He wrote that Sir Thomas's "knowledge and love of natural science" earned him respect.
Sir Thomas Gery Cullum also wrote his own book about plants in 1774. It was called Floræ Anglicæ Specimen imperfectum et ineditum. This book used the Linnean system to classify plants.
A type of flowering plant, called Cullumia, was named after Sir Thomas and his brother. This shows how important their work in botany was!
Family Life
Sir Thomas Gery Cullum married Mary Hanson. She was the daughter of Robert Hanson and inherited money from her brother, Levett Hanson. Levett Hanson worked for the Duke of Modena. When he passed away without children, he left his belongings, including family portraits, to his sister, Mary.
See also
- List of Old Carthusians
- Hardwick House (Suffolk)
- Lady Drury's Closet
