James Anderson (botanist)

Not to be confused with James Anderson of Hermiston or James Anderson (botanical collector).

Engraving by Luigi Schiavonetti c. 1795 based on a miniature by John Smart (1741-1811)

James Anderson (17 January 1738–6 August 1809[1]) was a Scottish physician and botanist who worked in India as an employee of the East India Company. During his career in India, he was involved in establishing a botanical garden at Mambalam, Madras, originating from a nopalry or Opuntia garden where he made attempts to introduce the cultivation of cochineal insects. He then attempted to introduce various other economically valuable plants, and examined silk and lac production. He maintained a steady communication with his friend from youth, James Anderson LLD (1739–1808) who published some of his notes in The Bee, or Literary Weekly Intelligencer, which has led to the use of the distinguishing form James Anderson MD or James Anderson of Madras.

  1. ^ Crawford, D.G. (1914). A history of the Indian Medical Service, 1600-1913. Volume 2. London: W. Thacker and Co. p. 22. Note:Gives date of death as 5 August 1809.