George Bentham Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

George Bentham was a renowned English botanist who made significant contributions to plant taxonomy and systematics in the 19th century. Born in 1800, Bentham developed a passion for botany at a young age and went on to become one of the most influential figures in the field.

Bentham’s meticulous work culminated in the publication of several important books, including “Genera Plantarum” (1862-1883), co-authored with Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker. This comprehensive work described and classified over 200 plant families and remained a standard reference for many decades. Bentham also played a key role in the development of the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of dried plant specimens.

Throughout his career, Bentham collaborated with many notable scientists of his time and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1862. He lived at 25 Wilton Place in the fashionable Belgravia district of London’s Borough of Westminster, an area known for its grand terraces and squares. Bentham’s dedication to his work and his lasting impact on the field of botany make him a fitting subject for a blue plaque, which was erected here in 1978 to commemorate his life and achievements.