Profession: naturalist

Perhaps the most under-appreciated British scientist, Ray pioneered the rational taxonomisation of the life sciences, providing a platform for Linnaeus’ subsequent work. Barrow, a fellow-student at Cambridge, became a great friend. Willughby, also met at Cambridge, accompanied him on expeditions, and supported him when he resigned his fellowship. Wilkins also gave him house-room – Ray translated one of his works into Latin. Rivinus (in Leipzig), Sloane, Oldenburg and Hooke were among his scientific correspondents. Magnol and Steno were met in Montpellier. His work on fishes so strained the Royal Society’s finances that Hooke and Halley were paid in extra copies.

The aristocratic Lacépède is mostly known for his continuation, after Buffon’s death, of his great descriptive ‘Natural History’. Gluck complimented the 20-year-old on his unperformed opera. Buffon befriended him after reading some of his writings, taught him (as did Daubenton), and regarded him as his protégé and chosen successor. Cuvier was a close colleague, as were Monge, Berthollet, Chaptal and Laplace. Geoffroy corresponded from Egypt, and took over his position when he fled the Revolution. Lalande was a Masonic colleague; Jefferson corresponded about the possibility of trade-routes and live mammoths.

Requien published little, but was an important naturalist (especially in the field of plant communities), enthusiastically and widely erudite. Among his extensive scientific contacts, Bentham, Mirbel, Gray, and his old teacher and good friend de Candolle all visited him. He met his kindred spirit and close colleague spirit Fabre in Corsica, introducing him to conchology and botany. Agassiz was a great friend — Requien sent him extensive information on fossil fishes, and joined him on Agassiz’s first visit to Paris. Mérimée and he, as inspectors of ancient monuments, became lifelong close friends, and helped save Avignon’s walls.

Though Lamarck’s ideas are largely discredited, he was the first to propose a coherent theory of evolution. Bernard de Jussieu taught him; his mentor Buffon helped him ascend the botanical ranks. Rousseau was, inspirationally, met on a walk. Among his professional colleagues, Daubenton wrote a preface for him, Geoffroy was one of the few to fully respect him, Cuvier disparaged his ideas and destroyed him after his death. De Candolle befriended him, Lamarck entrusting him with publication of a new edition of his ‘Flore Française.’ It’s thought that Balzac and Saint-Beuve attended his lectures; whether they met is uncertain.

Forster was long overshadowed by his son Georg. Taking over from his colleague Priestley, he was the first in England to teach natural history. Banks and Solander got to know him as a naturalist on his move to London, and when Cook refused Banks’s demands, Forster (with son) replaced him on Cook’s second voyage. He was a disciple and correspondent of Linnaeus, who regarded him highly and named a plant after him, and corresponded with Young. His gift for tactlessness (Cook and the Admiralty fell out with him, Solander had his reservations) contributed to his marginalisation and eventual return to Germany.