James Henry Lawrence-Archer

James Henry Lawrence Archer or Lawrence-Archer (28 July 1823 - 14 February 1889)[1] was a British soldier, collector of botanical specimens, and author best known for his guide to the Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies.

The Archer family were Scottish armigers, and Lawrence-Archer had maternal ancestors resident in Jamaica.

[7] He served with the 60th King's Royal Rifle Corps, being gazetted captain in 1855, and went on half-pay with the rank in 1869; later holding the rank of major, he remained on the half-pay list until his death.

[10] As an author he is best known for his guide to the Monumental Inscriptions of the British West Indies.

[12] A prolific correspondent, letters from Lawrence-Archer are held by a number of archives, including Kew Gardens, the National Library of Scotland, the University of California[13] and the British Library which holds his genealogical notes on West Indian families.