Frederick William Burbidge

Frederick William Thomas Burbidge (1847 in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, England – 1905 in Dublin, Ireland) was a British explorer who collected many rare tropical plants for the famous Veitch Nurseries. Burbidge's first job was as a gardener at Kew Gardens. From 1877 to 1878, however, he was an employee of Messrs Veitch and made many expeditions to South-east Asia in search of ornamental plants. From 1879 onwards he was the curator of the Botanic Gardens at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1894, Burbidge was appointed "Keeper of the College Park". Five years later he was awarded the honorary degree of M.A. at Dublin University and in 1897 granted the Victorian Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Burbidge is credited with introducing the famous pitcher plant "Nepenthes rajah" into cultivation. He is commemorated in the name of the genus "Burbidgea" (Hook.f.) and several species including "Globba burbidgei" (Ridl.). "Nepenthes burbidgeae" (Hook.f. "ex" Burb.) is thought to be named after his wife.

References

External links

* [http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/fmcollectors/b/BurbidgeFW.htm Nationaal Herbarium Nederland: Frederick William Burbidge]

Persondata
NAME=Burbidge, Frederick William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Burbidge, Frederick William Thomas;Burbidge, Frederick
SHORT DESCRIPTION=19th century English explorer and botanist
DATE OF BIRTH=1847
PLACE OF BIRTH=Wymeswold, Leicestershire, England
DATE OF DEATH=1905
PLACE OF DEATH=Dublin, Ireland