Record

Authorised form of name	Horsfield; Thomas (1773 - 1859)
Dates	1773 - 1859
Nationality	British
Place of birth	A farm near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Date of birth	12 May 1773
Date of death	24 July 1859
DatesAndPlaces	Burial: Moravian cemetery in Chelsea
Occupation	Physician and Naturalist
Activity	Education: Schools in Bethlehem and Naszareth, Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania, where studied medicine. MD thesis illustrates his interest in botany, a study of the effects of the physiologically active poison ivy 'Rhus toxicodendron L.' and other members of the Anacardiaceae.Travelled to Java for first time in 1800, and captivated by its flora and fauna. Worked for East India Company in Java, including on the toxim from latex producing tree 'Antiaris toxocaria'. In 1803 attempted to analyse lava from eruption of Gunung Gunter. After 1811 when Java seized by the British, came into contact with Sir Stamford Raffles and in 1812 visited and prepared a map of Bankga Island for Raffles. In 1818 visited Sumatra with Sir Stamford and Lady Raffles. In 1820 appointed to East India Comapny's Museum in Leadenhall Street, London on Raffles recommendation. Worked with botanists J.J. Bennett (1801-1876) and Robert Brown (1773-1858) to produce his 'Plantae Javanicae' rariores (1838-1852). Remained at the India Museum until his death. MD
Membership category	Fellow
Date of election	10/01/1828
PublishedWorks	'Plantae Javanicae rariores (1838-1852) with J J Bennett and Robert Brown; 'Zoological Researches in Java' (1821-1824); with N A Vigors an account of Australian birds, published in 'Transactions of the Linnaean Society of London (1827); with Sir William Jardine, 'Illustrations in Ornithology' (1830)
Source	Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DAB Obituaries: Proc Roy Soc 1859-1860 vol 10 pp xix-xxi Notes: 'Saml Carlisle' is Samuel Goodenough, Bishop of Carlisle New DNB (2004) gives place of birth as 42 West Market Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Code	NA5673

Archives associated with this Fellow

RefNo	Title	Date
IM/004735	Horsfield, Thomas	October 2004
EC/1828/03	Horsfield, Thomas: certificate of election to the Royal Society

Add to My Items

Papers of Colin Pillinger

Papers of Colin Pillinger

Tweets by theRCN

The mammals of Australia

The mammals of Australia

Papers of Howard Florey

Papers of Howard Florey

Classified Papers

Classified Papers

Papers of Colin Pillinger

Papers of Colin Pillinger

Browse Collections