John Gillies (c. 1792–1834) was a Scottish naval surgeon who later became an explorer and botanist, travelling extensively in South America. Educated at the University of Edinburgh, he served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. Afflicted by tuberculosis, Gillies left the UK aged 28 for South America in the hope that the climate would improve his fragile health. He spent eight years there, mostly in Argentina, surviving wars, civil unrest, and chronic ill health, sending numerous plants to Hooker at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew before returning in 1828. He died aged 42 at Edinburgh on 24 November 1834, his remains interred at Calton.Gibbs, F. W. (1951). John Gillies, M.D., Traveller and Botanist, 1792–1834. Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London 1951. The Royal Society, London
Eponymy
A number of plants were named for Gillies: (Amaryllidaceae) Gilliesia Lindl.1826. Botanical Register 12: t. 992 (Acanthaceae) Adhatoda gilliesii NeesProdr. (DC.) 11: 395. 1847 [25 de nov 1847] (IK) (Acanthaceae) Poikilacanthus gilliesii (Nees) LindauBot. Jahrb. Syst. 18(1-2): 57. 1893 [22 de dic 1893] (GCI) (Pteridaceae) Notholaena gilliesii FéeMém. Foug., 5. Gen. Filic. 159. 1850–52. 1850 (IF) (Anacardiaceae) Lithraea gilliesii Griseb.Abh. Königl. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen 19: 114. 1874 (IK) (Asclepiadaceae) Oxystelma gilliesii K.Schum.in Engl. & Prantl -- Nat. Pflanzenfam. [Engler & Prantl] 4, Abt. 2: 229. 1895 (GCI) (Asteraceae) Taraxacum gilliessi Hook. & Arn.Companion Bot. Mag. 1: 31. 1835 (IK) (Blechnaceae) Orthogramma gilliesii C.PreslEpimel. Bot. 121. 1851 [Oct 1851] (IF) (Bromeliaceae) Dyckia gilliesii BakerHandb. Bromel. 136. 1889 [Aug-Oct 1889] (IK) (Caesalpiniaceae) Caesalpinia gilliesii (Wall. ex Hook.) Benth.Flora Brasiliensis 15(2) 1870 (APNI)
References