John Miller (1715–c.1792), also known as Johann Sebastian Müller, was a German engraver and botanist active in London. Born in

Nuremberg Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...

, he trained under Johann Christoph Weigel and came to England in 1744 with his brother Tobias–an engraver of architecture–and lived there the rest of his life. He worked with

Philip Miller Philip Miller Royal Society, FRS (1691 – 18 December 1771) was an English botany, botanist and gardener of Scottish descent. Miller was chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden for nearly 50 years from 1722, and wrote the highly popular ...

Chelsea Physic Garden The Chelsea Physic Garden was established as the Apothecaries' Garden in London, England, in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to grow plants to be used as medicines. This four acre physic garden, the term here referring to the scie ...

. He signed his early works J. S. Müller or J. S. Miller, but after 1760 used the signature of John Miller. His works included a 20-part series ''Illustratio Systematis Sexualis Linnaei'' (Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus), which helped popularize the work of

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...

to English readers. He also produced collaborative works such as ''Botanical Tables'' (1785), with

John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (; 25 May 1713 – 10 March 1792), styled Lord Mount Stuart between 1713 and 1723, was a British Tory statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1762 to 1763 under George III. He became the ...

. Furthermore, he painted landscapes, which, as well as some of his engravings, he exhibited with the

Society of Arts The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, commonly known as the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), is a learned society that champions innovation and progress across a multitude of sectors by fostering creativity, s ...

and at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

from 1762 to 1788. He was twice married, and had in all twenty-seven children: two of his sons,

John Frederick Miller John Frederick Miller (active 1772–1796) was an English illustrator, mainly of botanical subjects. Miller was the son of the artist Johann Sebastian Müller (1715 – c. 1790). Miller, along with his brother James, produced paintings from th ...

and James Müller or Miller, also became known as illustrators.

Works

*''Engravings of Insects, with descriptions''. London 7 p., 10 col.plates. (1759-1760) *''The Figures of the most beautiful, useful, and uncommon plants'' (1760) *''Illustratio Systematis Sexualis Linnaei'' (1770-1777) *''Botanical Tables'' (1785) File:Illustratio systematis sexualis Linnaeani (Tab. 47) (6059662472).jpg, ''

Paeonia officinalis ''Paeonia officinalis'', the common peony, or garden peony, is a species of flowering plant in the family (biology), family Paeoniaceae, native plant, native to mainly mountainous areas of Southern Europe and introduced in Central Europe, Centra ...

'' from ''Illustratio systematis sexualis Linnaeani'' Illustratio systematis sexualis Linnaeani (Tab. 68) (6059667280).jpg, ''

Helianthus annuus The common sunflower (''Helianthus annuus'') is a species of large annual forb of the daisy family Asteraceae. The common sunflower is harvested for its edible oily seeds, which are often eaten as a snack food. They are also used in the pro ...

'' from ''Illustratio systematis sexualis Linnaeani'' Poetry, Painting and Candour.jpg, "Poetry, Painting & Candour"

References

External links

* * 1715 births 1792 deaths German botanical illustrators German engravers German landscape painters 18th-century German illustrators 18th-century English illustrators Artists from Nuremberg Emigrants from the Holy Roman Empire to the Kingdom of Great Britain {{Botanist-stub