The Father of English Botany
William Turner
William Turner was the first English botanist to study plants scientifically and classify plants according to their effect on the human body.
Born in Morpeth in 1508 Turner first began to learn of the use of plants at the local cattle market where his father worked as a tanner and large animal skins were preserved. Turner studied at Cambridge and after he gained his degree in 1533 he began his botanical studies.
He travelled around the country preaching and studying botany and when his beliefs got him into trouble with Henry VIII he went to Europe where he met the naturalist Conrad Gesner who produced illustrations for Turner??s books.
His famous book, ??A New Herball??, was published in 1538 and was the first study of botany to be written in English describing 300 native English plants using their correct names.
During his life Turner also practised as a physician, wrote religious works in English and was Dean of Wells, 1551-54 and 1560-68. Today his memory lives on in the William Turner Garden in Carlisle Park which is based on an Elizabethan knot garden and contains medicinal herbs.
Submitted by: Sarah McLeod, 25 January 2005
