Abstract
AN illustrated article by Mr. T. E. James in the first quarterly issue of Science Progress for 1933 recalls the work and interests of George Edwards, an eighteenth century naturalist (1694–1773) and Copley medallist in 1750 of the Royal Society. Edwards was made library-keeper of the Royal College of Physicians in 1733, on the recommendation of Sir Hans Sloane, its president, remaining in office at Warwick Lane for thirty-six years. During that period he devoted himself to the portrayal in colour of birds, quadrupeds and fishes (mostly new to science) from actual specimens. The Linnean Society has recently received from Major V. Seymer a set of Edwards's works, containing annotations and memoranda by a contemporary and correspondent of Edwards, namely, Henry Seymer, of Hanford, Dorset. It may be of interest to mention that the Linnean Society already possessed copies of Edwards's works, these having originally belonged to Joseph Grote, a collector of rare books on natural history and botany. At his death in 1805, his brother inherited his property, and ultimately the books, with many fine engravings, passed into the ownership of George Grote, the historian. His widow gave the greater portion of the collections to University College, London. Mrs. Grote reserved, however, the works by Edwards, but in 1877 placed them at the disposal of Sir Joseph D. Hooker, whom she designated as “the worthy and distinguished president of the Royal Society”. In the end, Sir Joseph gave the books to the Linnean Society.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
George Edwards, F.R.S. Nature 131, 124 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/131124a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/131124a0