George Watt's Herbarium catalogue

• Reference:GB 235 WAT
• Dates of Creation:1877 - 1888
• Name of Creator:
  Watt, Sir George
• Physical Description:
  1 large register

• Scope and Content

  large register partly filled with information regarding George Watt's herbarium specimens collected in India, mainly north-western Himalayas, Manipur and the plains and lower hills of India.

• Administrative / Biographical History

  Born Aberdeenshire 1851; died Dumfriesshire 1930
  After graduating with an MB from Glasgow University in 1872, George Watt was appointed Professor of Botany at the University of Calcutta in 1873 which in turn led to his entry into the Indian Government Service. His many appointments during 22 years in the service ranged from Secretary of the Indian Revenue and Agricultural Department 1884, Commissioner for India at the Colonial Exhibition London 1885-86, President of the Pharmacological Section, Indian Medical Congress 1894, Officer in Charge Industrial Museum, Calcutta 1894-1903, and Reporter on Economic Products to Government of India 1887-1903. He retired from the Indian Service in 1903 and returned to Britain where he continued scientific research. In 1912 he visited Portuguese West Africa to study cocoa cultivation and for 5 years lectured on Indian botany at Edinburgh University. He was a prolific author drawing on experience in his many Indian postings. After 1910 he became actively involved in county life around his home in Lockerbie, serving on the county council, the local education authority and as a JP.
  Sources: R. Desmond ‘Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturalists; obituary folder.
  D.W.

• Arrangement

  to be placed with Watt collection, but currently on shelf K4:2

• Access Information

  Collection is open to researchers by appointment, see (right click, open link in new tab:) https://www.rbge.org.uk/science-and-conservation/library-and-archives/visiting-the-library/

• Acquisition Information

  transferred from RBGE herbarium

• Note

  Born Aberdeenshire 1851; died Dumfriesshire 1930
  After graduating with an MB from Glasgow University in 1872, George Watt was appointed Professor of Botany at the University of Calcutta in 1873 which in turn led to his entry into the Indian Government Service. His many appointments during 22 years in the service ranged from Secretary of the Indian Revenue and Agricultural Department 1884, Commissioner for India at the Colonial Exhibition London 1885-86, President of the Pharmacological Section, Indian Medical Congress 1894, Officer in Charge Industrial Museum, Calcutta 1894-1903, and Reporter on Economic Products to Government of India 1887-1903. He retired from the Indian Service in 1903 and returned to Britain where he continued scientific research. In 1912 he visited Portuguese West Africa to study cocoa cultivation and for 5 years lectured on Indian botany at Edinburgh University. He was a prolific author drawing on experience in his many Indian postings. After 1910 he became actively involved in county life around his home in Lockerbie, serving on the county council, the local education authority and as a JP.
  Sources: R. Desmond ‘Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturalists; obituary folder.
  D.W.

• Archivist's Note

  to be added to George Watt collection catalogue when this is compiled.

• Conditions Governing Use

  Permission required from RBGE

• Additional Information

  published

  Minimal