Francis Masson
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1741 - 1805
About MeBotanist
Born in Aberdeen, Francis Masson travelled to London where he secured a gardening position at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In 1771 he was selected to travel to Africa’s southern cape to collect plants – the first person ever to be sent on such a mission by
Kew Gardens.
Based in Cape Town, Francis made three long and perilous journeys into the African interior in search of plants. There he found a wealth of exquisite botany. He collected seeds, bulbs, dried specimens and living plants which he dispatched back to Kew. On his return to Britain, Francis was sent on further expeditions to the Caribbean, Canada and back to Africa.
Overall, he added more than 400 specimens to Kew’s collections and introduced many now-familiar plants to the gardens of Britain, including the Bird of Paradise Flower and the Red Hot Poker. In 1797 he wrote and beautifully illustrated a book featuring the plants he discovered in Africa.
Wikipedia Biography
Loading ...
1851 - 1919
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1707 - 1758
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1862 - 1940
Dundee, Scotland, founded 1851
York, England, 1723 - 1807
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1838 - 1902
Aberdeen, Scotland, founded 1866
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1801 - 1870
Granite mason
1839 - 1922
1886 - 1970
Broadford Works, 1808 - 2002
London, England, 1882 - 1952
London, England, 1890 - 1964
Alvah, Banffshire, Scotland, 1823 - 1893
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1913 - 1985
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1891 - 1984
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1932 - 2022
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, 1913 - 1978
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1860 - 1938
Aberdeen, Scotland, born 1942
Aberdeen, Scotland, 1892 - 1968