| AdminHistory | William Borrer (1781 -1862) was one of the most eminent botanists of the early 19th century, known for his extensive knowledge of British plants and flora. He travelled the length and breadth of Britain collecting plants and lichens and has often been referred to as the 'Father of British Lichenology.' Although good at recording plant identifications, he often failed to record the date and location of where the plant had been collected. Borrer also grew many plant species in his garden in order that he could distinguish key identification characteristics without concerns that differences were caused by different habitats. On his death, over 6,600 specimens were inventoried in his garden by his head gardener Charles Green.
Borrer was born on 13 June 1781 in Henfield, Sussex. His parents were landowners and farmers who supplied the army. He received his earlier education in private schools at Hurstpierpoint and Carshalton in Surrey. Although he left school at an early age, he continued his studies under tutors, and obtained a good knowledge of the classics and French. His father wished him to adopt agriculture as a pursuit, though his own proclivities were towards medicine; but, being possessed of an ample fortune, he devoted himself to the study of botany, especially of his own country. He made repeated journeys in all parts of Britain, and endeavoured to cultivate every critical British species and all the hardy exotic plants he could obtain.
On 3 December 1805 Borrer was elected as a fellow of the Linnean Society of London and he was admitted on 4 February 1806. Borrer was also one of the members who proposed William Hooker to be a fellow of the Linnean Society in 1806. In addition, Borrer was elected as a member of the Wernerian Natural History Society in 1810 and elected as a fellow of the Royal Society in 1835. He was also elected a fellow of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh in 1842.
Borrer contributed his knowledge to many important works of British botany in the early 19th century, including the 'Botanist's Guide through England and Wales' by Turner and Dillwyn (1805) and 'Lichenographia Britannica' which he co-authored with Dawson Turner (1839).
Borrer was a patron of the sciences and supported his local church financially. He also promoted education of the poor through building schools on his land and also worked as a magistrate. In 1810, he married Elizabeth Hall (1789-1863), daughter of a banker, with whom he had 13 children, 5 of whom died in childhood. Borrer remained at his residence at Barrow-hill, Sussex, until his death on 10 January 1862. |
| Description | Comprises diary entries and botanical notes of William Borrer from expeditions he made in England and Wales including Stratford, Coventry, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Bangor and Llanberis from 1837-1846. Also contains correspondence written by William Borrer to Linnean Society Secretary [George] Busk, Linnean Society Zoological Secretary John Joseph Bennett and botanist William Christy dating from 1842-1862.
Also includes an envelope addressed to W. Borrer containing labelled specimens of lichens and algae including:
- Myriangium Curtisii, Berk. x Mont
- Glenospora Curtisii, Berk. & Desm
- Collema
- Micrasterias
- Staurastrum
- Closterium dianae
- Cosmarium magartifena |