New Book
William Turner: Father of English Botany
Reviewed by Rita Pearce
This is a new account of the life, times and influence of William Turner. Turner was born in Morpeth the son of a local tanner, possibly educated at the Chantry School then Pembroke College, Cambridge, there to mix with other local high flyers and protestants, Nicholas Ridley, William Burghley and Roger Ascham.
The book describes Turner’s academic and scientific integrity, the integrity of his religious beliefs and how these were affected by the changing political situation in England. It illuminates this period of English history, made turbulent by the conflict of politics, revolutionary ideas in religion, the spreading of knowledge from Istanbul via Northern Italy, the developments in printing and illustration of books and the drive to provide knowledge for everyone in English instead of academic Latin. William Turner had to flee to Europe from Henry VIII and Mary Tudor and was imprisoned temporarily by Elizabeth I.
He maintained his stout Protestantism, even marrying and raising a family, although he held church office. He researched in the universities of Northern Italy, then at the cutting edge of knowledge, where the teaching of students at patients’ bedsides was being introduced, and became the first director of the new physic garden at Pisa.
Turner was aware of the need to identify and name plants accurately. He wrote in English so that this knowledge should be available to all. His herbals were fully illustrated with woodcuts so that people from different regions could identify the plants even though they used different names.
The book is generously illustrated. Its language is clear and easy to read. It is well worth its modest price. Castle Morpeth Borough Council, the Friends of Carlisle Park and Marie Addyman are to be congratulated on this publication.
City and County
November 2008
