George Don Jnr

George Don Junior (1798–1856),

George Don Jr. was a prominent 19th-century plant collector who undertook an extensive expedition for the Horticultural Society of London to West Africa and the Americas between 1821 and 1823

. His collecting activities were focused on discovering and introducing new species to Britain for scientific study and cultivation. 

Summary of George Don Jr.'s Collecting Activities

• Commissioned Expedition: Don was selected by the Horticultural Society of London (now the Royal Horticultural Society) in 1821 for a significant plant-hunting voyage.

• Geographic Scope: He traveled extensively, visiting the Balearic, Canary, and Cape Verde Islands en route to West Africa. He spent time exploring Gambia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone before crossing the Atlantic to Brazil, Jamaica, Cuba, and the eastern United States.

• Collection Methods: Don collected a substantial number of specimens, including species of Allium, Aquilegia, and Rhododendron, many of which were new to Western botany. His methods often involved employing local people as guides, interpreters, and laborers to assist in finding and gathering plants, especially in challenging tropical conditions. He also observed plants cultivated in local gardens and farms.

• Challenges: The tropical conditions in Africa proved difficult, but he persevered. Interactions with local communities were sometimes strained, with instances recorded in his journals of locals initially refusing requests or Don taking water without permission.

• Legacy: He returned in 1823 with significant collections. While many of his discoveries were published by Joseph Sabine, Don published several new species from Sierra Leone himself. His work greatly enriched British horticulture and contributed to his major four-volume publication, A General System of Gardening and Botany(1832–1838). 

His legacy in the world of botany is remembered through the plant Memecylon donianum named in his honor and a memorial at the Plant Hunter's Garden in Pitlochry. 

George Don (1798–1856), also known as George Don Junior to distinguish him from his father, was a prominent Scottish botanist and plant hunter. His primary collecting activities took place in the early 1820s on behalf of the 

Horticultural Society of London(now the RHS). 

Summary of Collecting Activities (1821–1823)

In 1821, Don was commissioned to travel to Africa and the Americas to acquire new plant species for the Society's gardens. 

• West Africa (1821–1822): Sailing on the HMS Iphigenia, he explored coastal regions including Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Guinea. Despite harsh tropical conditions, he collected numerous specimens, including the "Miraculous berry" (Synsepalum dulcificum) with the assistance of local guides and British governors.

• The Americas (1822–1823): He crossed the Atlantic to Brazil in July 1822, then traveled through the West Indies (including Jamaica and Cuba) and along the eastern seaboard of the United States before returning to England in 1823.

• Key Discoveries: Don is credited with introducing a significant number of new species to Britain, including various Allium, Aquilegia, and Rhododendron species. He published several of his Sierra Leone findings, though many were also published by his colleague Joseph Sabine. 

Major Botanical Contributions

Following his expeditions, Don transitioned from active field collecting to significant taxonomic and literary work:

• A General System of Gardening and Botany: Between 1832 and 1838, he published this monumental four-volume work (also known as Gen. Hist.), which provided a comprehensive account of dichlamydeous plants.

• Taxonomic Work: He revised the first supplement to Loudon’s Encyclopaedia of Plants and wrote an influential monograph on the genus Allium in 1832.

• Legacy: He was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1831 and is honored today at the Plant Hunters' Garden in Pitlochry, Scotland.