William Stephens (botanist)
William Stephens FRS (1696–1761) was an Irish physician and botanist, and the second lecturer in botany at Trinity College Dublin. He is a Fellow of the royal society,[1] and his is tenure saw significant contributions to the university’s Physic Garden, including the compilation of a detailed plant catalog and the publication of botanical lecture notes for students.[2][3]
Early life and education
Born in 1696, Stephens was educated in Dublin before studying natural philosophy at the University of Glasgow in 1715.[3] He then moved to Leiden University, a leading center for medical and botanical studies, where he earned his medical doctorate on 15 July 1718.[2] Upon returning to Dublin, he received both Bachelor and Doctor of Medicine degrees from TCD in 1724.[3]
Career and achievements
Stephens was appointed lecturer in botany at TCD, likely in 1724 or 1725, succeeding Henry Nicholson.[2] His most notable contributions include:
- Catalog of the Physic Garden (1726): A detailed record of over 500 plant species, presented to the Botanical Society of London on 22 October 1726.[3]
- Botanical Elements (1727): Published lecture notes intended to aid students, as Stephens noted it was "impossible to expect that they should acquire a distinct and permanent knowledge of botany by a bare attendance upon one lecture."[3]
Stephens was elected a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 1728, having already become a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1718.[1]
Later life and legacy
In 1733, Stephens succeeded William Smyth as lecturer in chemistry, ending his formal role in botany.[3] He continued his academic work until his death in 1761. His contributions helped sustain Trinity’s early botanical studies, bridging the gap between Nicholson’s foundational work and later developments in the field.[2]