Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists

"Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists" edited by F. W. Oliver is a collection of biographical essays written in the early 20th century. The book focuses on prominent figures in British botany, detailing their contributions and legacies, particularly during the Victorian era. It covers a range of botanists who played key roles in the development of botanical science in Britain. The opening of the volume presents a preface and introduction, which outline the book's origins and its purpose of compiling the biographies of significant botanists. It originated from a series of lectures delivered at the University of London, later expanded to include additional chapters. Among the botanists mentioned are Robert Morison and John Ray, who are noted as foundational figures in establishing systematic botany in Britain. The text emphasizes both the historical significance of these figures and their influence on modern botanical studies, setting the tone for a detailed exploration of their lives and works that follows in the subsequent chapters.