James De Carle Sowerby (5 June 1787 – 26 August 1871) was a British

mineralogist Mineralogy is a subject of geology specializing in the scientific study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals and mineralized artifacts. Specific studies within mineralogy include the proces ...

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

, and illustrator. He received an education in

chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

. Sowerby was born in London, the son of botanical artist

James Sowerby James Sowerby (21 March 1757 – 25 October 1822) was an English naturalist, illustrator and mineralogist. Contributions to published works, such as ''A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland'' or ''English Botany'', include his detailed and app ...

(1757–1822), and his wife, Anne de Carle (1764–1815). He continued his father's work and published, together with his brother

George Brettingham Sowerby I George Brettingham Sowerby I (12 August 1788 – 26 July 1854) was a British naturalist, illustrator and conchologist. Life He was the second son of James Sowerby. George was educated at home under private tutors, and afterwards assisted his ...

, the latter volumes of the ''Mineral

Conchology Conchology () is the study of mollusc shells. Conchology is one aspect of malacology, the study of molluscs; however, malacology is the study of molluscs as whole organisms, whereas conchology is confined to the study of their shells. It includ ...

of Great Britain'', begun by their father. Together with a cousin, he founded the Royal Botanic Society and Gardens, and was its secretary for 30 years. His son William Sowerby was also a botanist and illustrator, and succeeded him as Secretary of the Royal Botanic Society in 1869. In 1846,

John William Salter John William Salter (15 December 1820 – 2 December 1869) was an England, English natural history, naturalist, geologist, and palaeontologist. Salter was apprenticed in 1835 to James De Carle Sowerby, and was engaged in drawing and engraving ...

(English naturalist, geologist, palaeontologist, and leading authority on trilobites) married Sally, daughter of Sowerby, and eventually fathered seven children with her. Sowerby died in

Kilburn, London Kilburn is an area of north west London, England, which spans the boundary of three London Boroughs: London Borough of Camden, Camden to the east, City of Westminster, London Borough of Brent, Brent to the west. There is also an area in the City ...

in 1871.

References

External links

Rare Book Room
Scan of ''Monograph of the Testudinata'' (and ''Tortoises, terrapins, and turtles drawn from life'') with illustrations by Sowerby

Scans of selected plates from ''

The Zoological Journal ''The Zoological Journal'' was an early nineteenth century quarterly scientific journal devoted to zoology. It published "Original Communications, Translations of new and interesting Papers from Foreign sources and notices of new and remarkabl ...

'', illustrated by Sowerby 1787 births 1871 deaths British mineralogists British botanists Scientists from London {{UK-geologist-stub

See also

References

External links