Biography Robert Morison

a diagram morison s 1672 book on umbelliferae illustrating genus affinities.

in 1648 took doctorate in medicine @ university of angers in western france , on devoted himself entirely study of botany. studied in paris under guidance of vespasien robin, botanist king of france, introduced him gaston, duke of orléans. on robin s recommendation morison became director of royal gardens @ blois, central france, post subsequently held ten years.

in 1660, despite inducements make him stay in france, morison returned england following restoration , became physician charles ii botanist , superintendent of royal gardens salary of £200 per annum, , free house.

earlier in 1621, henry danvers, 1st earl of danby had given oxford university 250 pounds purchase of land physic garden . @ same time, earl bequeathed revenues fund chair in botany @ university; in 1669 morison became first professor of botany, post held until 1683.

in year began teaching @ oxford, morison published praeludia botanica, work stressed using structure of plant s fruits classification. @ time, classification focused on habitat , medicinal properties of plant , morison s criticism of systems promoted botanists such jean , gaspard bauhin caused anger among contemporaries. in preface plantarum umbelliferarum distributio nova (1672), morison gave definitive statement of principles of method , first person ever write monograph of specific group of plants , umbelliferae.

morison fatally injured pole of carriage crossing street on 9 november 1683 , died following day @ house in green street, leicester-fields. buried in church of st martin-in-the-fields, westminster.