Thomas Martyn (23 September 1735 – 3 June 1825) was an English botanist and Professor of Botany at

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

. He is sometimes confused with the conchologist and entomologist of the same name.

Life

Martyn Gentleman's guide in his tour through Italy

Thomas Martyn was the son of the botanist

John Martyn Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009), known professionally as John Martyn, was a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a 40-year career, he released 23 studio albums, and received frequent critical acclaim. ...

(1699–1768). He was educated in

Chelsea Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to: Places Australia * Chelsea, Victoria Canada * Chelsea, Nova Scotia * Chelsea, Quebec United Kingdom * Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames ** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...

and at

Emmanuel College, Cambridge Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Elizabeth I. The site on which the college sits was once a priory for Dominican mon ...

, graduating BA in 1756 and becoming a fellow of

Sidney Sussex College Sidney Sussex College (referred to informally as "Sidney") is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. The College was founded in 1596 under the terms of the will of Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex (1531–1589), wife ...

and being ordained deacon in 1758. In 1759 he became MA and priest. In 1762 he succeeded his father as Professor of Botany at the University, and held the post until his death in 1825, though he only lectured until 1796 'as the subject was not popular'. Thomas Martyn's professorship at Cambridge lasted for 63 years, while his father had held the same post for 29 years. Thomas Martyn was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

in 1786.

Works

Two of Martyn's major works are ''Plantæ Cantabrigiensis'' (1763) and ''Flora Rustica'', 4 vols. (1792–1794). He translated the '' Lettres sur la botanique'' of

Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (, ; 28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the Age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolu ...

. In 1788 he published ''Thirty-eight Plates with Explanations'', illustrating the plant system devised by

Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

As a priest in the Anglican church Thomas Martyn preached until he was 82 years old; in 1830

George Cornelius Gorham George Cornelius Gorham (1787–1857) was a vicar in the Church of England. His legal recourse to being denied a certain post, subsequently taken to a secular court, caused great controversy. Early life George Cornelius Gorham was born on 21 Aug ...

, his curate, published a dual biography consisting of additions to Martyn's memoir of his father and Martyn's autobiographical memoir (''Memoirs of John Martyn, F.R.S., and of Thomas Martyn, B.D., F.R.S, F.L.S., Professors of Botany in the University of Cambridge'', London, Hatchard & Son). Thomas Martyn's other written works include: ''The English Connoisseur'' (1766); ''The Gentleman's Guide in his Tour through Italy'' (1787) and ''The Language of Botany'' (1793). His book in 1807, ''The Gardeners' and Botanists' Dictionary'', improved and expanded

Philip Miller Philip Miller FRS (1691 – 18 December 1771) was an English 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 ''The Gardeners Dictio ...

's 1731 book ''

The Gardeners Dictionary ''The Gardeners Dictionary'' was a widely cited reference series, written by Philip Miller (1691–1771), which tended to focus on plants cultivated in England. Eight editions of the series were published in his lifetime. After his death, it was ...

''.Thomas Martyn

Publications

* Thomas Martyn, ''Some account of the late John Martyn, F.R.S., and his writings''. London: 1770. An expanded version of this memoir was prepared and published by George Gorham in 1830. For a full list, see Gorham p. 267

References

Bibliography

* 1735 births 1825 deaths 18th-century British botanists Fellows of the Royal Society Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge Fellows of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge 19th-century British botanists Professors of Botany (Cambridge) {{UK-botanist-stub