Did you know that a Norfolk man helped save Kew Gardens? Here we stand before a blue plaque dedicated to John Lindley. It marks a place where he lived. It also commemorates his significant contributions to botany.
John Lindley was born in 1799. He was a self-taught botanist. He became a professor of botany at University College in London. Lindley held this position for 31 years.
Lindley edited numerous journals. He served on the staff of several botanical gardens. He wrote encyclopedia entries. He published books on general botany, fossil plants, and orchids.
John Lindley championed a natural system for plants. This system opposed the artificial sexual system of Linnaeus. Lindley’s natural system was preferable to Linnaean taxonomy on principle. However, it was not especially successful.
Lindley made significant contributions to horticulture. He organised the first flower shows in England in 1830. He wrote one of the best books on horticulture.
Kew Gardens is a top tourist attraction. It houses over 27000 different living plants. It also has almost nine million preserved specimens. There is also a library containing almost a million books. It is the largest and most diverse botanical collection in the world. John Lindley helped save Kew Gardens from urban development.
Lindley gave the government a choice. Kew Gardens should be taken for public purposes. It should be made worthy of the country. It should be converted into a powerful means of promoting national science. Or it should be abandoned. The government proposed pulling down all the greenhouses. They wanted to give away all the plants. Lindley told Prime Minister William Lamb the matter would be raised in Parliament. There was a public outcry. Queen Victoria added her support. The government backed down. Kew Gardens became public property.
John Lindley investigated the potato disease that caused the Great Irish Famine. He helped write a report. This report led to the repeal of the Corn Laws.
Lindley’s greatest love was for orchids. He was the leading authority of his time. He described and named almost 150 new species.
The Royal Horticultural Society bought his library. It now forms part of the world’s largest collection of horticultural literature. The RHS Lindley Medal is awarded annually. It goes to exhibits with exceptional educational value. Over the last 140 years, more than 200 plant species have been named after him.
John Lindley lived in this house from 1836. He died here in 1865. This blue plaque honors his life. It celebrates his lasting impact on the world of botany and horticulture. Take a moment to appreciate the legacy of John Lindley.