John Sowerby (botanist)

[8][2][3] He was tall and strong, with red hair and abundant energy, always active, whether walking, solving mathematical problems, devouring French and German fiction, or teaching himself Italian and Hebrew.

He also helped boys who floundered at games by putting them in a team nicknamed “Sowerby’s Eleven” and giving them special coaching.

[15] In his mid-thirties, John was introduced to botany by Thomas Arthur Preston, a fellow master at the college.

The men struck up a life-long friendship, and when Preston wrote a book on the flowering plants of Wiltshire, John contributed a chapter on the county’s topography.

[8] Other masters at Marlborough often joined him, namely William Grylls Adams, Waldemar Mansell, and Francis Edward Thompson.

On these trips, John explored the mountains and glaciers, collected plants, sketched scenery, drew maps, and acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the area's geography, history, and culture.

He was an early member of the Alpine Club and wrote several articles for its journal, including one on the Maderanerthal, an area he helped popularise.

[8][17] In 1892, he published The Forest Cantons of Switzerland, a guide for tourists, full of detailed information about the region, including a history of the William Tell legend.