John Ellis (naturalist)

John Ellis
Bornc. 1710
Died15 October 1776(1776-10-15) (aged 65–66)
Occupation(s)Naturalist, linen merchant
AwardsCopley Medal
1767
Title page of French translation of "Natural History of the Corallines"
Plate from John Ellis’ "A Botanical Description of the Dionaea Muscipula"

John Ellis FRS (c. 1710 – 15 October 1776) aka Jean Ellis was a British linen merchant and naturalist. Ellis was the first to have a published written description of the Venus flytrap and its botanical name. The standard author abbreviation J.Ellis is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.[1]

Ellis specialised in the study of corals. He was elected a member of the Royal Society in 1754 and in the following year published An essay towards the Natural History of the Corallines. He was awarded the Copley Medal in 1767. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1774.[2] His A Natural History of Many Uncommon and Curious Zoophytes, written with Daniel Solander, was published posthumously in 1776.

Ellis was appointed Royal Agent for British West Florida in 1764, and for British Dominica in 1770.

He exported many seeds and native plants from North America to England. He corresponded with many botanists, including Carl Linnaeus.

  1. ^ International Plant Names Index.  J.Ellis.
  2. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 30 March 2021.