Henrietta Beaufort (1778–1865), earlier Harriet Beaufort, was a botanist born of Anglo-French parents in Ireland. Her ''Dialogues on Botany for the Use of Young Persons'' was published in 1819 and aimed to teach plant biology to young readers.

Books

In her ''Dialogues on Botany'', Beaufort considered it important to delay the teachings of the Linnaean system of classification until she had first provided the basis, physiology. There were no pictures in her book, because she thought it was important for readers to study nature and not the representation of it. She was criticized by contemporaries for this. In 1829 John Murray published her ''Bertha’s Journal'', without her name appearing as author.

Family

Beaufort's father, the Reverend Daniel Beaufort, a founding member of the

Royal Irish Academy The Royal Irish Academy (RIA; ga, Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann), based in Dublin, is an academic body that promotes study in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is Ireland's premier List of Irish learned societies, learned socie ...

, was her inspiration to become a scientist. She had two sisters,

Frances Frances is a French and English given name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'free one.' The male version of the name in English is Francis. The original Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman", comes from the F ...

and Louisa, and a brother,

Francis Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places * Rural M ...

. Her whole family was interested or connected to science. Both Henrietta and Louisa wrote books in the hope of supporting their family after their father gave up his clerical position and found himself highly indebted. When her brother Francis's confidential diary was decoded, after their deaths, it revealed feelings of guilt he felt over having an incestuous relationship with Henrietta.Alfred Friendly, Beaufort of the Admiralty, Hutchinson, 1977

Publications

*''Dialogues on Botany for the Use of Young Persons'' (London, 1819) *''Bertha's Journal'' (London: John Murray, 1829)Ray Desmond, ed., “BEAUFORT, Henrietta (olim Harriet) (1778-1865)” in ''Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturists'', p. 59

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beaufort, Henrietta 1778 births 1865 deaths Women biologists Hariet Henrietta Irish women scientists Irish biologists 19th-century women scientists 19th-century Irish scientists Irish women botanists