P000270 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human McCarthy, G.J., Moje, C. & Walsh, N. updated 2025-04-09 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000270b.htm person Brown Robert FRS FLS FRSE AACR2 21 December 1773 10 June 1858 Place of Birth Montrose, Scotland Place of Death Soho Square, London, England Botanist Robert Brown was one of the most important botanists in the discovery and publication of the Australian flora. He studied medicine in Edinburgh (but did not graduate) before being appointed botanist in H.M.S. Investigator under the command of Matthew Flinders for a journey to explore the waters around New Holland. Scientific companions on the voyage included collector Peter Good and natural history artist Ferdinand Bauer. Investigator embarked in July 1801 and reached the southwest of New Holland in December, and Port Jackson in May 1802. The continuation of the voyage, the circumnavigation of the continent, was curtailed when the poor condition of the ship discovered. Flinders's return to the United Kingdom for a replacement ship was seriously impeded by shipwreck (in which a large portion of Brown's specimens were lost), and imprisonment on the Ile de France. Remaining in New South Wales, Brown collected throughout the colony, often in company with local collectors such as George Caley, and made an extended visit to Van Diemen's Land. In company with Bauer, Brown returned to the United Kingdom in 1805 in the refurbished Investigator. On his return Brown published a number of pioneering works on Australian botany. These included Prodromus florae novae hollandiae et insulae van-diemen (1810), which was notable for following the natural classification system of French botanist Antoine de Jussieu, and Supplementum primum prodromi floræ novae hollandiae(1830). His "General remarks, geographical and systematical, on the botany of terra australis" was published in Flinders's account of the Investigator voyage. Brown's other notable research included recognition of the distinction between gymnosperms and angiosperms; the discovery of what is now termed Brownian motion; the first classification of the family Proteaceae; and works on pollination, the application of palynology to systematics, the cell nucleus and cytoplasmic streaming. For ten years after his return to the United Kingdom, Brown was Librarian to Joseph Banks; and, after Banks's death, curator of his herbarium including following its transfer to the British Museum. Brown was Keeper of the Museum's Botanical Department for over 20 years until his death, and had a long association with the Linnean Society. The endemic Australian plant genus Brunonia (Goodeniaceae) was named in his honour. 1791? 1793? Life event - Studied medicine in Edinburgh 1794 1794 Life event - Enlisted in the Fifeshire Regiment of Fencibles 1795 1800 Career position - Commissioned Surgeon's Mate with the Fifeshire Regiment of Fencibles 1801 1805 Career position - Naturalist in H.M.S. Investigator 1803 1804 Life event - Visited Van Diemen's Land (6 months) 1803 1805 Life event - In New South Wales 1805 1810 Career position - Clerk, Librarian and Housekeeper to the Linnean Society May 1805 Life event - Departed New South Wales with Ferdinand Bauer in H.M.S. Investigator for the United Kingdom October 1805 Life event - Arrived in the Port of Liverpool, United Kingdom 1810 1810 Publication - "Prodomus florae novae hollandiae et insulae van-diemen", published in London 1810 1820 Career position - Librarian to Joseph Banks 1810 1858 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 1820 1820 Career position - Bequeathed a life interest in Banks's collections 1822 1858 Award - Foreign Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 1822 1858 Award - Fellow, The Linnean Society of London (FLS) 1827 1827 Career position - Banks collection transferred to the British Museum 1827 1851 Career position - Correspondent, Royal Institute of the Netherlands 1827 1858 Career position - Keeper of the Banksian Herbarium, British Museum 1828 1828 Career position - Vice-President, Linnean Society, London 1837 1858 Career position - Keeper of the Botanical Department, British Museum 1849 1853 Career position - President, Linnean Society, London 1849 1858 Award - Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1851 1858 Award - Foreign member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences 1853 1858 Career position - Vice-President, Linnean Society, London 1876 1876 Event - Personal herbarium acquired by the British Museum 1913 1913 Taxonomy event - Eucalyptus brownii Maiden & Cambage (1913) was named in his honour. Caley, George (1770 - 1829)

Caley and Brown collected plants together in New South Wales

 Good, Peter (? - 1803)

Collector in H.M.S. Investigator 1801 - 1803 under command of Matthew Flinders

 Dryander, Jonas Carlsson (1748 - 1810)

Dryander published on Australian plants collected by Brown 1801-5

 Flinders, Matthew (1774 - 1814)

Naturalist in H.M.S. Investigator 1801 - 1805 (under command of Matthew Flinders 1801 - 1803)

 Schauer, Johann Conrad (1813 - 1848)

Schauer published some of Brown's specimens

 Bauer, Ferdinand Lukas (1760 - 1826)

Natural history artist in H.M.S. Investigator 1801 - 1805 (under command of Matthew Flinders 1801 - 1803); illustrated several of Brown's publications

 Australian Joint Copying Project, National Library of Australia; and State Library of New South Wales (1945 - 1993)

AJCP M1193, M2494 - M2496

 H.M.S. Investigator, Royal Navy (1795 - c. 1872)

Botanist 1801 - 1805

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Brown, Robert (1773-1858)

Trove

 'Brown, Robert', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Brown, Robert Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Short History of the Discovery and Naming of Banksias in Eastern Australia: Part 4, The Abbe Antonia Jose Cavanilles, Robert Brown and Franz W. Sieber Salkin, A. I. Short History of the Discovery and Naming of Banksias in Eastern Australia: Part 4, The Abbe Antonia Jose Cavanilles, Robert Brown and Franz W. Sieber 1981 The Victorian naturalist 98 5 191-194 Journal Article: The Overland Route and Collecting Localities of the Robert Brown Party to Mt Brown 10th and 11th March 1802 Grandison, Ralph The Overland Route and Collecting Localities of the Robert Brown Party to Mt Brown 10th and 11th March 1802 2000 South Australian Geographical Journal 99 23-35 Journal Article: The Influence of Robert Brown on Western Australian Botany Keighery, Greg and Gibson, Neil The Influence of Robert Brown on Western Australian Botany 2002 Australian Garden History 14 3 5-8 Conference Paper: Retracing the Route Taken by Robert Brown and Company in a Portion of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia Grandison, R. Retracing the Route Taken by Robert Brown and Company in a Portion of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia Melbourne Australian Systematic Botany Society 1990 History of Systematic Botany in Australasia: Proceedings of a Symposium Held at the University of Melbourne, 25-27 May 1988 Short, P.S. 105-108 Review: Historical Records of Australian Science Maroske, Sara 2002 Historical Records of Australian Science 14 2 219-221 Journal Article: In the Footsteps of Robert Brown Benson, Douglas; Howell, Jocelyn In the Footsteps of Robert Brown 2002 Australian Garden History 14 3 11-14 Journal Article: George Caley - Robert Brown's Collecting Partner Webb, Joan B. George Caley - Robert Brown's Collecting Partner 2002 Australian Garden History 14 3 15-16 Book: Brunonia Australis: Robert Brown and his Contribution to the Botany of Victoria Hewson, Helen J. Brunonia Australis: Robert Brown and his Contribution to the Botany of Victoria Canberra Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research 2002 Journal Article: The Botanical Manuscripts of Robert Brown Moore, D.T.; and Beasley, M.A. The Botanical Manuscripts of Robert Brown 1997 Archives of Natural History 24 2 237-280 Book Section: Robert Brown, 1773-1858 Mabberley, D. J. Robert Brown, 1773-1858 Oxford Oxford University Press 2004 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Journal Article: Robert Brown: Botanist [1773-1858] Hurburgh, Marcus Robert Brown: Botanist [1773-1858] 1982 Tasmanian Tramp 24 35-38 Journal Article: Robert Brown's Contribution to Rhamnaceae Systematics Kellermann, Jürgen Robert Brown's Contribution to Rhamnaceae Systematics 2004 Telopea 10 2 515-524 Journal Article: A Brief History of Lichenology in Tasmania, Australia Kantvilas, G. A Brief History of Lichenology in Tasmania, Australia 1983 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 117 41-52 Journal Article: Robert Brown's Collectings in Victoria Willis, J. H. Robert Brown's Collectings in Victoria 1956 Muelleria 1 51-54 Journal Article: Botanists in Australia: Robert Brown Kennedy, K. Botanists in Australia: Robert Brown 1963 Townsville Naturalist 4 5-8 Journal Article: Robert Brown (1773-1858). Osborn, T. G. B. Robert Brown (1773-1858). 1958 Australian Journal of Science 21 127-130 Journal Article: Robert Brown at Port Dalrymple Giblin, R.W. Robert Brown at Port Dalrymple 1929 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 25-32 Journal Article: Robert Brown, the Botanist. Maiden, J. H. Robert Brown, the Botanist. 1907 Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society ii 87-89 Journal Article: Flinders, Baudin and Brown at Encounter Bay Giblin, R.W. Flinders, Baudin and Brown at Encounter Bay 1929 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1-6 Journal Article: Some Pioneers in Plant Exploration Classification Blake, S. T. Some Pioneers in Plant Exploration Classification 1954 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of Queensland lxvi 1 1-19 Book: Eucalypts: a Celebration Wrigley, J.; and Fagg, M. Eucalypts: a Celebration Crows Nest Australia Allen & Unwin 2010

Source used to compile entry

 Book Section: Brown, Robert (1773-1858), botanist Burbidge, N. T. Brown, Robert (1773-1858), botanist Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1966 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 1: 1788 - 1850 A-H Douglas Pike 166-167 Book: The miscellaneous works of Robert Brown Brown, Robert: edited by Bennett, John J. The miscellaneous works of Robert Brown London Ray Society 1966-8 Book: Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen Brown, R. Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen Londini typis R. Taylor et socii 1810 Book: Supplementum primum prodromi floræ Novae Hollandiae Brown, R. Supplementum primum prodromi floræ Novae Hollandiae Londini Typis Ricardi Taylor 1830 Book: Ferdinandi Bauer Illustrationes florae Novae Hollandiae, sive, Icones generum quae in Prodromo florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen descripsit Robertus Brown Bauer, Ferdinand Ferdinandi Bauer Illustrationes florae Novae Hollandiae, sive, Icones generum quae in Prodromo florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen descripsit Robertus Brown Londini Veneunt apud auctorem, 10 Russel Street, Bloomsbury 1813 Book: General remarks, geographical and systematical, on the botany of terra australis Brown, Robert General remarks, geographical and systematical, on the botany of terra australis London W. Bulmer printer 1814 Journal Article: Some observations on the natural family of plants called Compositae Brown, Robert Some observations on the natural family of plants called Compositae 1817 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 12 76-142 Journal Article: On the Proteaceae of Jussieu Brown, Robert On the Proteaceae of Jussieu 1811 Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 10 15-226 Book: Narrative of an expedition into Central Australia, performed under the authority of Her Majesty's government, during the years 1844, 5, and 6: together with a notice of the province of South Australia in 1847 Sturt, Charles Narrative of an expedition into Central Australia, performed under the authority of Her Majesty's government, during the years 1844, 5, and 6: together with a notice of the province of South Australia in 1847 London T. and W. Boone 1849 Book: A voyage to terra australis : undertaken for the purpose of completing the discovery of that vast country, and prosecuted in the years 1801, 1802, and 1803, in His Majesty's ship the Investigator [etc] Flinders, Matthew A voyage to terra australis : undertaken for the purpose of completing the discovery of that vast country, and prosecuted in the years 1801, 1802, and 1803, in His Majesty's ship the Investigator [etc] London G. and W. Nicol 1814 Journal Article: A synopsis of dated entries in the biological collecting notes from eastern and northern Australia made by Robert Brown (1773-1858) on the Investigator voyage of 1801-1805 Moore, D. T. A synopsis of dated entries in the biological collecting notes from eastern and northern Australia made by Robert Brown (1773-1858) on the Investigator voyage of 1801-1805 2002 Archives of Natural History 29 3 383-98 Book: Nature's Investigator: the Diary of Robert Brown in Australia, 1801-1805 Vallance, T. G.; Moore, D.T.; and Groves, E. W. Nature's Investigator: the Diary of Robert Brown in Australia, 1801-1805 Canberra Australian Biological Resources Study 2001 Journal Article: Robert Brown Stearn, W. T. Robert Brown 1977 Brunonia 1 1-7 Book: A very secret trade: the dark story of gentlemen collectors in Tasmania Pybus, Cassandra A very secret trade: the dark story of gentlemen collectors in Tasmania Sydney Allen & Unwin 2024 Journal Article: Robert Brown 200 conference papers Mabberley, D. J. editor Robert Brown 200 conference papers 2002 Cunninghamia 7 613-69 Journal Article: Jupiter botanicus in the bush: Robert Brown's Australian field work, 1801-5 Vallance, T. G. Jupiter botanicus in the bush: Robert Brown's Australian field work, 1801-5 1990 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112 49-86 Journal Article: The Robert Brown material in the National Herbarium Glasnevin Powell, M.; and Morley, B. The Robert Brown material in the National Herbarium Glasnevin 1976 Glasra 1 12-29 Journal Article: A catalogue of plants written by Robert Brown (1773-1858) in New South Wales: first impressions of the flora of the Sydney region Groves, E. W.; and Moore, D. T. A catalogue of plants written by Robert Brown (1773-1858) in New South Wales: first impressions of the flora of the Sydney region 1997 Archives of Natural History 24 2 281-93 Journal Article: Robert Brown (1773-1858) and the natural history of Matthew Flinders' voyage in H.M.S. Investigator, 1801-1805 Edwards, P. I. Robert Brown (1773-1858) and the natural history of Matthew Flinders' voyage in H.M.S. Investigator, 1801-1805 1976 Journal of the Society for the Bibliography of Natural History 7 4 385-407 Journal Article: Some aspects of the work of the botanist Robert Brown (1773-1858) in Tasmania in 1804 Moore, D. T. Some aspects of the work of the botanist Robert Brown (1773-1858) in Tasmania in 1804 2000 Tasforests 12 123-46 Book: Curious Minds: the Discoveries of Australian Naturalists MacInnis, Peter Curious Minds: the Discoveries of Australian Naturalists Canberra National Library of Australia 2012 Journal Article: The Botanical Legacy of 1802: South Australian Plants Collected by Robert Brown and Peter Good on Matthew Flinders' Investigator and by the French Scientists on Baudin's Géographe and Naturaliste Barker, Robyn M. The Botanical Legacy of 1802: South Australian Plants Collected by Robert Brown and Peter Good on Matthew Flinders' <span style="font-style:italic">Investigator</span> and by the French Scientists on Baudin's <span style="font-style:italic">Géographe</span> and <span style="font-style:italic">Naturaliste</span> 2007 Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 21 4-55 Edited Book: Matthew Flinders and his scientific gentlemen: the expedition of HMS Investigator to Australia, 1801-05 Wege, Juliette Matthew Flinders and his scientific gentlemen: the expedition of HMS Investigator to Australia, 1801-05 Perth Western Australian Museum 2006 Journal Article: Encountering Aboriginal Knowledge: Explorer Narratives on North-east Queensland, 1770 to 1820 Davis, Michael Encountering Aboriginal Knowledge: Explorer Narratives on North-east Queensland, 1770 to 1820 2014 Aboriginal History 37 29-50 Book: Upside Down World: Early European Impressions of Australia's Curious Animals Olsen, Penny Upside Down World: Early European Impressions of Australia's Curious Animals Canberra National Library of Australia 2010 Journal Article: A cautionary note on Robert Brown's collecting localities Clarkson, J. A cautionary note on Robert Brown's collecting localities 1988 Australian Systematic Botany Society newsletter 57 5-7 Journal Article: The zoological manuscripts of Robert Brown Wheeler, A. The zoological manuscripts of Robert Brown 1993 Archives of natural history 20 417-24 Journal Article: Robert Brown's zoological collections made during the voyage of "Investigator" Kinnear, N. B. Robert Brown's zoological collections made during the voyage of "Investigator" 1931 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 144 33-8 Journal Article: A list of the cryptogams and gymnospermous plant specimens in the British Museum (Natural History) gathered by Robert Brown in Australia 1801-5 Groves, E. W.; and Moore, D. T. A list of the cryptogams and gymnospermous plant specimens in the British Museum (Natural History) gathered by Robert Brown in Australia 1801-5 1989 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 111 65-102 Book Section: Botany of the Flinders voyage Edwards, Phyllis Botany of the Flinders voyage Sydney Academic Press 1981 People and Plants in Australia Carr, D. J.; and Carr S. G.M. 139-66 Journal Article: Robert Brown's Bass Strait journal of April/May 1802 (a transcription) Willis, J. H.; and Skewes, C. I. Robert Brown's Bass Strait journal of April/May 1802 (a transcription) 1956 Muelleria 1 46-50 Journal Article: Robert Brown's Australian collecting localities Burbidge, Nancy T. Robert Brown's Australian collecting localities 1956 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 80 229-33 Book Section: Procrastination of unpredictable circumstances? The handling of Robert Brown's collections in London Groves, Eric W. Procrastination of unpredictable circumstances? The handling of Robert Brown's collections in London Perth Western Australian Museum 2006 Matthew Flinders and his Scientific Gentlemen: the Expedition of HMS Investigator to Australia, 1801-05 Wege, Juliette 129-41 Book: The Robert Brown handbook: a guide to the life and work of Robert Brown (1773 - 1858), Scottish botanist Mabberley, David J.; and Moore, David T. The Robert Brown handbook: a guide to the life and work of Robert Brown (1773 - 1858), Scottish botanist Glashütten, Germany Koeltz 2022 Journal Article: George Caley - Robert Brown's collecting partner Webb, Joan B. George Caley - Robert Brown's collecting partner 2002 Cunninghamia 9 617-21 Review: Worth delaying lunch? Clarkson, John Worth delaying lunch? 2022 Australasian Systematic Botany Society newsletter 191 37-8 Book Section: Robert Brown on HMS Investigator 1801 - 1805: an overview of the natural history collecting localities Moore, David T. Robert Brown on HMS <span style="font-style:italic">Investigator</span> 1801 - 1805: an overview of the natural history collecting localities Perth Western Australian Museum 2006 Matthew Flinders and his scientific gentlemen: the expedition of HMS Investigator to Australia, 1801-05 Wege, Juliette 49-65 Book: Jupiter Botanicus: Robert Brown of the British Museum Mabberley, D. J. Jupiter Botanicus: Robert Brown of the British Museum Braunschweig Verlag von J. Cramer 1985 Journal Article: Robert Brown at the Cape of Good Hope Rourke, J. P. Robert Brown at the Cape of Good Hope 1974 Journal of South African botany 40 47-60 Book: Dictionary of Australian biography Serle, Percival Dictionary of Australian biography Sydney Angus & Robertson 1949 Journal Article: Records of Australian botanists:- (a) general; (b) New South Wales Maiden, J. H. Records of Australian botanists:- (a) general; (b) New South Wales 1908 Journal and Proceedings of The Royal Society of New South Wales 42 60-132 Journal Article: Records of Queensland Botanists Maiden, J. H. Records of Queensland Botanists Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1910 Report of the twelfth meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 12 373-383 Journal Article: Records of Tasmanian Botanists Maiden, J. H. Records of Tasmanian Botanists 1909 Papers and proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1909 9-29 Book: Botanical Pioneers in Victoria Willis, J. H. Botanical Pioneers in Victoria [Melbourne] [Brown Prior Anderson] 1949 The Victorian naturalist 66 19 Edited Book: Peter Good: Kew's gardener with Matthew Flinders on HMS Investigator, 1801 - 1803 George, Alex S.; and Moore, David T. Peter Good: Kew's gardener with Matthew Flinders on HMS Investigator, 1801 - 1803 Kardinya, W.A. Four Gables Press 2022 Edited Book: The journal of Peter Good, gardener on Matthew Flinders voyage to Terra Australia 1801-03 Edwards, P. I. The journal of Peter Good, gardener on Matthew Flinders voyage to Terra Australia 1801-03 London British Museum (Natural History) 1981 Book: Australian botanist's companion George, Alex S. Australian botanist's companion Kardinya, W.A. Four Gables Press 2009 Journal Article: Botanical pioneers in Victoria - I Willis, J. H. Botanical pioneers in Victoria - I 1949 Victorian naturalist 66 5 83-9 Book: The voyage of the Investigator 1801 - 1803, Commander Matthew Flinders, R.N. Austin, K. A. The voyage of the Investigator 1801 - 1803, Commander Matthew Flinders, R.N. Adelaide Rigby Limited 1964 Robert Brown - Records National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection Robert Brown - Records MS 1182 1802 Small typescript extract of Brown's diary, from 8 March 1802 to 12 March 1802. It describes in some detail Brown's observations and experiences in the area around what was to become Port Augusta. 16 leaves Robert Brown - Records JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia Robert Brown - Records LBWA/497A 1801 - 1802 Microfilm of a diary and notes on Australian flora, December 1801 - January 1802, when Brown was at Albany and surrounding areas from originals in the Botanical Library, Natural History Museum, London [LBWA/497A]. 1 reel Robert Brown - Records National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection Robert Brown - Records mfm G 10022 1801 - 1805 Microfilm copy of Brown's diary 1801-05 from the original in the British Museum. 1 microfilm reel