Famous Botanists - List of Famous Botanists

Botanists are people who study botany (the science of studying plant biology) and conduct research base on their studies. Apart from plants, they also study fungi and algae. Conducting research on fossilized plants is the job of those botanists who have specialized knowledge in paleobotany. Botanists possess specific knowledge in ethnobotany which is the study of the use of plants by different cultures. Identification and classification of new species of plants are some of the important segments of a botanist’s work. Scientific study of plants helps us to comprehend the effect of plants on human and animals. Their study also works to determine the medicinal effect of any plant. Armed with modern scientific equipment, botanists conduct studies into the genetic structure of specific plants. To investigate the effects of various environmental factors like temperature, sunlight, soil and rainfall on plants is a part of a botanist’s profession. By using biochemical and molecular techniques, botanists also examine the nature of evolution of plants. Based on their findings, they prepare scientific reports and papers. They play a key role in developing drugs and other products from plants. Their study plays a vital role in controlling the factors of pollution in nature. What follows is a collection of the biographies, timelines, trivia and other information about the professional and personal lives of some of the world’s most famous botanists.

The Most Famous Botanists

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Charles DarwinFebruary 12, 1809BritishCharles Darwin was one of the most influential figures in human history
Carl LinnaeusMay 23, 1707SwedishCarolus Linnaeus was a renowned Swedish biologist popularly known as the ‘Father of Modern Taxonomy’ who founded the binomial nomenclature
Janaki Ammal1897IndianJanaki Ammal was an Indian botanist best remembered for her work on sugarcane and eggplant
George Washington CarverJanuary 1, 1864AmericanGeorge Washington Carver was an American scientist and inventor
Marie StopesOctober 15, 1880BritishMarie Stopes was a British author and palaeobotanist who played a pioneering role in the field of family planning
Albrecht von HallerOctober 16, 1708SwissAlbrecht von Haller was a renowned botanist of the 18th century and also regarded as the Father of modern physiology
Lynn MargulisMarch 5, 1938AmericanLynn Margulis was a famous American biologist who co-developed the Gaia theory and studied evolution in nucleated cells
Birbal Sahni1891IndianBirbal Sahni was an Indian palaeobotanist who founded the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow
Ferdinand von MuellerJune 30, 1825Australian, GermanFerdinand von Mueller was a German-Australian botanist and geographer
Agnes ArberFebruary 23, 1879BritishAgnes Arber was one of the most eminent botanists whose researches based on plant morphology hold good till date
Ferdinand von Mueller

Ferdinand von Mueller

Ferdinand von Mueller was a German-Australian botanist and geographer

AustralianJune 30, 1825157 views

Hugo von Mohl

Hugo von Mohl was a German botanist who was a major figure in the field of plant anatomy in the mid-19th century

GermanApril 8, 1805151 views

Birbal Sahni

Birbal Sahni was an Indian palaeobotanist who founded the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow

Indian1891167 views

Janaki Ammal

Janaki Ammal was an Indian botanist best remembered for her work on sugarcane and eggplant

Indian1897258 views

Robert Brown

Robert Brown was a renowned botanist, famous for having laid the foundation for what is today popularly called the ‘Brownian Motion’.Read on for detailed information about his childhood, profile, career and timeline

BritishDecember 21, 1773142 views

Lynn Margulis

Lynn Margulis was a famous American biologist who co-developed the Gaia theory and studied evolution in nucleated cells

AmericanMarch 5, 1938169 views

Marie Stopes

Marie Stopes was a British author and palaeobotanist who played a pioneering role in the field of family planning

BritishOctober 15, 1880196 views

Carl Linnaeus

Carolus Linnaeus was a renowned Swedish biologist popularly known as the ‘Father of Modern Taxonomy’ who founded the binomial nomenclature

SwedishMay 23, 1707322 views

Albrecht von Haller

Albrecht von Haller was a renowned botanist of the 18th century and also regarded as the Father of modern physiology

SwissOctober 16, 1708175 views

Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks was an English botanist whose work paved the way for future-botanists

BritishFebruary 24, 1743135 views