Arthur Henfrey (botanist)


Arthur Henfrey was an English surgeon and botanist.

Biography

Henfrey was born of English parents at Aberdeen on 1 November 1819. He studied medicine and surgery at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and was admitted a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1843. Poor health caused him to give up his medical career.
In 1847, Henfrey lectured on plants at the medical school of St. George's Hospital. He then succeeded Edward Forbes in the botanical chair at King's College London in 1853; and was examiner in natural history to the Royal [Military Academy, Woolwich|Royal Military Academy] and also to the Society of Arts. He was elected an associate of the Linnean Society in 1843, and a fellow in the next year. In 1852, he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.
Henfrey died at Turnham Green on 7 September 1859, aged 39. The genus Henfreya of John Lindley, of the Acanthaceæ, was merged into the Asystasia of Blume.

Works

Henfrey wrote:
  • Anatomical Manipulations, 1844, with Alfred Tulk.
  • , 1847.
  • , Ray Society, 1849.
  • The Rudiments of Botany, 1849; 2nd edit. 1859.
  • The Vegetation of Europe, its Conditions and Causes, 1852.
  • The Relations of Botanical Science to other Branches of Knowledge, 1854.
  • Introductory Address, King's College, London, 1856.
  • An Elementary Course of Botany, 1857; fourth ed. 1884.
  • On the Educational Claims of Botanical Science, 1857.
He translated:
Henfrey also edited:
Henfrey married Elizabeth Anne Henry, eldest daughter of the Hon. Jabez Henry. She survived her husband for more than 40 years, and died 86 years old at Hanworth House, Chertsey, on 10 October 1902. Henry William Henfrey the numismatist was their son.