When University College London (UCL) launched in 1826, botany was included in its academic range. In part, this was supported by its relationship to medicine and pharmacology. Also in part, it was related to systematics and taxonomy. William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) was appointed first Professor of Botany, but he refused to leave his existing position as Professor of Botany at University of Glasgow to take up the post. John Lindley (1799-1865) was appointed as his replacement in 1829. Lindley held the post until 1860, and he was succeeded by Daniel Oliver (1830-1916).
UCL has several good histories, including:
- Negley Harte, John North, and Georgina Brewis (2018). World of UCL, 4th Edition (UCL Press).
- H. Hale Bellot (1929). University College London 1826-1926 (University of London Press).
History of the Botanical Department
Francis Oliver created this pamphlet for the Department of Botany’s centennial in 1927. It is produced here in full as a facsimile. The publication date is June 1927. The full title of the pamphlet is:
- Oliver, Francis Wall. 1927. An Outline of the History of the Botanical Department of University College, London Issued by the Department on the Occasion of the Centenary of the College (London: Westminster Press), 23 pages.
Alternative: Internet Archives.