6-743: Robert John Thornton (1768–1837) was an English physician and botanical writer, noted for A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Von Linnæus (1797–1807) and "The British Flora" of 1812. He was the son of Bonnell Thornton and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge . Inspired by John Martyn 's lectures on botany and the work of Linnaeus , he switched from the Church to medicine. He worked at Guy's Hospital in London, where he later lectured in medical botany . After spending some time abroad, he settled and practised in London. Robert inherited
12-597: A six-page weekly serial, The Connoisseur , which, although criticised by Dr. Johnson for lack of substance, ran to 140 issues. He was a frequent contributor to The Gentleman's Magazine . Thornton was also a member of the Nonsense Club of Old Westminster men with George Colman , William Cowper , Charles Churchill and Robert Lloyd . He married Sylvia Braithwaite, younger and posthumous daughter of Colonel John Braithwaite by his wife Silvia Cole, and sister of Major-General Sir John Braithwaite, 1st Baronet . She
18-528: The family fortune after the death of both his brother and mother. Thornton died in destitution. In 1799 Thornton commenced his work on the New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnaeus , a work of botanical science to be published in three parts. The first was a dissertation on the sex of plants according to the Swedish scientist Carolus von Linnaeus, and the second an exposition of
24-786: The project, Thornton had decided to publish seventy folio-size plates. Lack of interest from the general public spelled disaster for the scheme, and the holding of a lottery could not save it from financial ruin, neither did a page in the work dedicated to the spouse of George III , Queen Charlotte , patroness of botany and the fine arts. It is estimated that around 800 copies were produced, each containing 31 plates accompanied by inspirational poetry and explanatory notes covering flower lore and legend. Published:- Thornton, R.J. 1812. Elements of Botany Part 1. Classification. London. Dedicated to Rev. Thomas Martyn, M.A.F.R.S. [REDACTED] Media related to Robert John Thornton at Wikimedia Commons Bonnell Thornton Bonnell Thornton (1725–1768)
30-503: The sexual system. The most ambitious part of the New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus Linnæus was Part III, the Temple of Flora (1799–1807). The first plates were engraved by Thomas Medland in May 1798, from paintings by Philip Reinagle . Between 1798 and 1807, they produced a total of thirty-three coloured plates, engraved in aquatint, stipple and line engraving. When he planned
36-547: Was an English poet, essayist, and critic. He was educated at Westminster School , and at Christ Church, Oxford , where he graduated B.A. in 1747. In 1752 Thornton founded the Drury Lane Journal , a satirical periodical which, among other things, lampooned other journals such as Johnson 's Rambler , The Gentleman's Magazine and The London Magazine . Twelve issues were published between January and April 1752. From 1754 to 1756 he published, with George Colman ,
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