William Philip Hiern facts for kids
William Philip Hiern (born January 19, 1839, died November 28, 1925) was a smart British man. He was a mathematician, which means he studied numbers and shapes. He was also a botanist, someone who studies plants.
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Hiern's Early Life and Studies
William Hiern went to St. John's College at Cambridge University. This was from 1857 to 1861. He earned a top degree in mathematics there. Later, in 1886, he also studied at Oxford University.
After he got married, Hiern moved to Surrey. This is where he started to become very interested in plants. He began to study them closely.
Life in Devon
In 1881, William Hiern moved to Barnstaple. This town is in the north of Devon. He lived in a large house next to the old Barnstaple Castle mound.
Hiern really enjoyed being a country gentleman. He took on many public jobs. For example, he was the Lord of the Manor of Stoke Rivers. He was also one of the first important leaders for the County of Devon.
From 1916 to 1917, he was the president of the Devonshire Association. This was for one year.
Hiern's Work with Plants
William Hiern wrote more than 50 books and papers about plants. One of his most important works was a list of plants. These plants were collected in Angola by another botanist named Friedrich Welwitsch.
Hiern's plant collections are kept in a few places. You can find them at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. They are also at Kew Gardens and at Cambridge University.
Awards and Plants Named After Him
In 1903, William Hiern was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society. This is a very important group for scientists.
Many plants were named to honor him. These include:
- The African plant genus Hiernia. This plant is part of the figwort family.
- Ixora hiernii, which is a tropical evergreen shrub.
- Pavetta hierniana, another type of evergreen shrub.
- Coffea canephora var hiernii, which is a kind of coffee plant.
Hiern also described the Gabon Ebony tree in 1873. This tree is called Diospyros crassiflora. It is known for its very dark wood.
