James Anderson (botanical collector)

James Anderson (1797 – 22 April 1842) was a Scottish botanical collector who later became the superintendent of the Sydney Botanic Gardens.

Anderson was born in Boquhan near Stirling in Scotland in 1797.

Between 1826 and 1830 Anderson sailed on the HMS Adventure, collecting seeds and dried specimens. This voyage, to the Straits of Magellan and the coast of South America, was captained by Phillip Parker King. A collection of dried specimens was submitted to the British Museum after the voyage.

He collected many South American species for the Clapton Nursery in London on behalf of Hugh Low and John Bain Mackay including the following:

He also sent plant specimens to William Hooker at Glasgow University.

Francoa appendiculata

Libertia chinensis

Solanum crispum

On 25 August 1832, Anderson arrived in Sydney on the ship Brothers which had set out from Plymouth on 4 May. In 1835, he advertised seeds of 150 species of the "Flora of New South Wales" as well as 300 dried specimens for sale. In the same year he was appointed to the position of assistant superintendent at Sydney Botanic Gardens. He became superintendent in 1838 and continued in this role until his death in 1842.

Anderson died in 1842 in his residence at the botanic gardens. He was buried at Devonshire Street Cemetery, the inscription on his tombstone reading:

In 1901 his remains were re-interred at the cemetery at La Perouse.

Carex andersonii, a species that he collected at Port Famine on the Strait of Magellan, was named in his honour.

...
Wikipedia