Humphrey Gilbert-Carter (1884–1969) was a British botanist and the first scientific director of the Cambridge Botanic Garden (1921–1950), being succeeded by John Gilmour. The second son of the colonial governor Sir Thomas Gilbert-Carter and Susan Laura Hocker he was educated at

Tonbridge School (God Giveth the Increase) , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day and boarding , religion = , president = , head_label ...

and

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted ...

. After further studies at

Marburg University The Philipps University of Marburg (german: Philipps-Universität Marburg) was founded in 1527 by Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, which makes it one of Germany's oldest universities and the oldest still operating Protestant university in the wor ...

and

Cambridge University The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III of England, Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world' ...

, he served as a botanist on the

Botanical Survey of India Botanical Survey of India (BSI) located in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It was founded on 13 February 1890, is Government of India Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's organization for survey, research and conservation of pl ...

during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. In 1921 Gilbert-Carter returned to Cambridge to take up his position as Director of the University Botanic Garden and Curator of the Herbarium at the Botany School where he taught at the age of 37. Within a year he had published his first book, ''Guide To The Botanic Garden Cambridge'' (1922), followed by his ''Descriptive Labels for Botanic Gardens'' (1924). The gardens were much depleted, because of the war but his friendship with

Reginald Cory Reginald Radcliffe Cory (1871 – 1934) was an influential British horticulturalist. Life The third son of Sir John Cory, a shipping and coal magnate and philanthropist, he read law at Trinity College, Cambridge and inherited and developed ...

, a fellow alumnus, resulted in considerable funding including the building of Cory Lodge as a residence for the Director. Amongst his students, Donald Piggott, would later become a professor in the Botany School, and director of the garden (1984–1995). Gilbert-Carter is remembered by the Gilbert Carter Woodland in the Garden.

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* * * * * British botanists People educated at Tonbridge School Alumni of the University of Edinburgh University of Marburg alumni Alumni of the University of Cambridge Academics of the University of Cambridge 1884 births 1969 deaths {{botanist-stub