James Anderson (1797 – 22 April 1842) was a Scottish botanical collector who later became the superintendent of the Sydney Botanic Gardens.

Early life

Anderson was born in Boquhan near Stirling in Scotland in 1797.

Plant collecting

Between 1826 and 1830 Anderson sailed on HMS ''Adventure'', collecting seeds and dried specimens. This voyage, to the Straits of Magellan and the coast of South America, was captained by

Phillip Parker King Rear Admiral Phillip Parker King, FRS, RN (13 December 1791 – 26 February 1856) was an early explorer of the Australian and Patagonian coasts. Early life and education King was born on Norfolk Island, to Philip Gidley King and Anna Jo ...

. A collection of dried specimens was submitted to the

British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...

after the voyage. He collected many South American species for the Clapton Nursery in London on behalf of Hugh Low and

John Bain Mackay John Bain Mackay (5 February 1795 – 9 August 1888) was a nurseryman based in Clapton, London noted for his introductions of Australian and South American plants into cultivation. He was born in Echt in Aberdeenshire in Scotland. At his Cla ...

including the following: * ''

Francoa appendiculata ''Francoa appendiculata'' is a species of the Francoaceae family which consists of herbs endemic to Chile. Plants may grow up to one metre high and produce basal clumps of round, deeply lobed, dark green, fuzzy leaves with winged leafstalks. Com ...

'', Chiloé, Chile * '' Herbertia pulchella'', Bay of Maldonado. Uruguay * ''

Libertia chilensis ''Libertia chilensis'', synonym ''Libertia formosa'', called the New Zealand satin flower, snowy mermaid, or Chilean-iris, is a species of flowering plant in the iris family, Iridaceae, native to the Juan Fernández Islands, central and southern ...

'' (syn. ''Libertia formosa'') "from near the southern extremity of the continent of America" (introduced from seed) * ''

Solanum crispum ''Solanum crispum'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Solanaceae, native to Chile and Peru. Common names include Chilean potato vine, Chilean nightshade, Chilean potato tree and potato vine. Growing to tall, it is a semi-evergreen, ...

'', Chiloé, Chile (introduced 1830) He also sent plant specimens to William Hooker at Glasgow University. File:Francoa appendiculata pm.jpg, ''Francoa appendiculata'' File:Libertia chilensis - University of California Botanical Garden - DSC08909.JPG, ''Libertia chinensis'' File:SolanumCrispum.jpg, ''Solanum crispum''

New South Wales

On 25 August 1832, Anderson arrived in Sydney on the ship ''Brothers'' which had set out from Plymouth on 4 May. In 1835, he advertised seeds of 150 species of the "Flora of New South Wales" as well as 300 dried specimens for sale. In the same year he was appointed to the position of assistant superintendent at Sydney Botanic Gardens. He became superintendent in 1838 and continued in this role until his death in 1842.

Death

Anderson died in 1842 in his residence at the botanic gardens. He was buried at

Devonshire Street Cemetery The Devonshire Street Cemetery (also known as the Brickfield Cemetery or Sandhills Cemetery) was located between Eddy Avenue and Elizabeth Street, and between Chalmers and Devonshire Streets, at Brickfield Hill, in Sydney, Australia. It was con ...

, the inscription on his tombstone reading: :''Erected to the memory of the late James Anderson, Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney, who died on the 22nd April, 1842. He was born at Boquhan, near Stirling, Scotland, in 1797, and travelled over a great part of Europe, Africa, and America, and along the coast of New Holland, collecting rare botanic specimens. He was of a most kindly disposition, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. This monument was subscribed for by a number of his friends in this colony to show their respect for his memory.'' In 1901 his remains were re-interred at the cemetery at La Perouse. ''

Carex andersonii ''Carex andersonii'' is a species of sedge that was first described by Francis Boott Francis Boott (26 September 1792 – 25 December 1863) was an American physician and botanist who was resident in Great Britain from 1820. Biography Boot ...

'', a species that he collected at Port Famine on the Strait of Magellan, was named in his honour.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Jamesl 1797 births 1842 deaths Botanical collectors active in Australia