William Jameson (botanist, born 1815) facts for kids
William Jameson (1815-1882) was a Scottish doctor and plant expert. He played a big part in helping tea farms grow across North India in the 1800s.
Early Life and Education
William Jameson was born in Leith, Scotland, in 1815. His father, Laurence Jameson, made soda, and his mother was Jane Watson. His uncle was a famous scientist named Robert Jameson.
William went to the High School in Edinburgh. Later, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh.
Career in India
In 1838, William Jameson got a job with the Indian Medical Service in Bengal, India. This was a group of doctors who worked for the British government in India.
He soon became very interested in plants, which is called botany. Because of his interest, he became the Curator of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. This meant he was in charge of their collections and research related to Asia.
In 1842, he became the Superintendent of the Saharanpur Botanical Garden. This was a very important garden for studying and growing plants. From 1860, he let another doctor, John Lindsay Stewart, take over this job for a year while he was away.
Achievements and Recognition
William Jameson was known for his work with tea plants. He helped spread tea farming across North India, which changed the way people drank tea around the world.
In 1863, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a special honor for scientists and thinkers in Scotland. John Hutton Balfour, another famous botanist, suggested him for this award.
Later in 1875, he became the Deputy Surgeon-General of India. This was a very high position for a doctor in India at that time. For his important work, he was given the title of Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE).
Later Life
William Jameson was married to Emily Field.
He passed away in Dehradun, India, on March 18, 1882.
