Contents
Robert Brown
Microscopic observations of plant cells and Brownian motion.
Australian plants · Nucleus
- Born
- 21 December 1773
- Birthplace
- Montrose
- Died
- 10 June 1858
More people
Robert Brown
Scottish botanist who studied plant structure, reproduction and classification. His Australian collections and microscopic investigations became important resources for nineteenth-century science.
Early life
Medicine to botany
Studied in Aberdeen and Edinburgh but devoted increasing attention to plants. Left medical studies and served as an army surgeon’s mate in Ireland.
Career
- 1792
Early research
Presented a botanical account of Angus.
- 1801 onward
Australian expedition
Collected plants while travelling with Matthew Flinders.
- 1827
Microscopic motion
Investigated the irregular movement of particles suspended in water.
Contributions
Australian plants
Described and classified material gathered during the expedition.
Nucleus
Provided an influential description of the nucleus in plant cells.
Beyond work
Scientific networks
Corresponded with botanist William Withering and made collecting excursions with other naturalists.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Artistic portrait; Creator not stated; see image source. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.