William Arthur (botanist) facts for kids

William Arthur (1680 - 1716) was a Scottish doctor. He was in charge of the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh and was also the King's official plant expert. Soon after, he was involved in the Jacobite rising of 1715. He had to leave Scotland and went to Italy. He died there the next year.

Early Life and Education

William was born in Elie, Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1680. His father, Patrick Arthur, was a surgeon and pharmacist. His mother, Margaret Sharp, was related to Archbishop James Sharp.

In the early 1700s, William traveled to Utrecht to study medicine. He learned from a famous Dutch doctor named Herman Boerhaave. William became a doctor in March 1707. He then came back to Scotland and first worked as a doctor in Elie. In 1713, he moved to Edinburgh and joined the Royal College of Physicians. He became a Fellow there in 1714.

Family Connections

In 1710, William married Barbara Clerk. She was the daughter of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik. Her family was very important in Scottish politics and supported the King. This marriage helped William make strong connections with powerful people in Scotland. It meant he was seen as loyal to the government.

King's Botanist Role

When King George I became king, the person in charge of the Royal Botanic Garden was James Sutherland. He was also the King's Botanist. It was a surprise when William Arthur took over this job. William was a doctor, and he didn't seem to have much experience with plants beyond what a doctor would know.

It is thought that William got this important job because of his strong family connections through his wife's family. During his time as the King's Botanist, William probably did not do many of the actual duties of the job. He left little record of any botanical work.

The Jacobite Plan

William Arthur was accused of being a key part of a plan by the Jacobites to capture Edinburgh Castle in September 1715. The Jacobites wanted to bring back the old royal family to the throne. This story was told by Sir Walter Scott in his book Tales of a Grandfather.

William's younger brother, Thomas Arthur, and their cousin, James Arthur, were also involved. William was said to be one of the main organizers of the plan for John Erskine, Earl of Mar, a Jacobite leader. The plan was for Thomas to get some soldiers inside the castle to help pull up ladders. James was supposed to bring loyal soldiers from his own group inside the castle.

The attacking group was to have 50 Highlanders and 50 local Jacobites. These local people were not just ordinary folk, but included officers, lawyers' assistants, and other young men. The leader of this group was Alexander MacGregor, a brave gentleman. They were to have many weapons.

However, the plan went wrong very quickly. A person involved in the plot talked about it while drinking, and the information reached the castle guards. The guards on the wall were warned, and their shifts were changed. This meant the soldiers who were supposed to help the Jacobites would have less time to do their part.

The attacking group met near the West Kirk at 11 PM. They then climbed Castle Rock and waited below the castle walls for the ladders. But the person who was paid to make the ladders was not there. The group only had one short ladder.

At 11:30 PM, the new guards arrived early because of the warning. The plan was discovered. The attackers at the bottom of the walls ran away. Some of them were caught by the Edinburgh Town Guard, including three young men and a former officer named Captain Maclean. The rest ran north. They then met the person who was supposed to bring the ladders, but it was too late.

The Highlanders went north towards Kinross. The sergeant inside the castle who was helping the plot was caught and punished. William Arthur later wrote a letter saying he fled Edinburgh with other plotters. He went to a relative's house, got horses, and rode through the Pentland Hills to another relative's home.

From there, he wrote to his wife in Edinburgh. She told him that his part in the plan was known. William then got money and fresh horses from his wife's family land. He was helped across the border into England by people who supported the Jacobites. The authorities in Edinburgh later said that William Arthur met with the Earl of Mar and was at the Battle of Preston, where the Jacobite rising finally failed.

Later Life and Death

William Arthur was later found in Rome, Italy. He died in 1716. It is said he wrote about the plot before he died, to clear his name from rumors that he had lost his courage or told his wife about the plan. This message, along with news of his death, was sent to the Earl of Mar.

William was buried in Rome by his supporters. He was the first person to be buried in the Protestant Cemetery in that city.