James Britten

Born in Chelsea, London, he moved to High Wycombe in 1865 to begin a medical career.

He became a Catholic in 1867, and was involved at various times in social work and training choirs in Brentford, Isleworth, and Southwark.

In 1871, he joined the Department of Botany at the British Museum and remained in this position until his retirement in 1909.

[2] In 1879, he succeeded Henry Trimen as editor of the Journal of Botany, British and Foreign.

This had lapsed in 1872, but Britten helped revive it in 1884, and dominated the movement for many years.