Richard Richardson (botanist)

[1] Richardson was educated at Bradford Grammar School, and on 20 June 1681 matriculated at University College, Oxford.

He matriculated at Leyden University on 26 September 1687, and lodged for three years with Paul Hermann, the professor of botany; Herman Boerhaave was among his fellow-students.

[1] With ample means, Richardson travelled in England, Wales, and Scotland in search of botanical specimens, particularly cryptogams.

[2] On close terms with Ralph Thoresby, Richardson corresponded with Sloane, Dillenius, Jan Frederik Gronovius, James Petiver, and other prominent botanists and antiquarians.

[1] Richardson died at Bierley on 21 April 1741, and was, as he had directed, buried in Cleckheaton chapel in Birstall, which he had rebuilt.

[1] Richardson's Latin thesis De Febre Tertiana for a doctor's degree at Leyden on 13 March 1690 was printed, with a dedication to Richard Thornton.

[4] Dawson Turner edited for Francis Currer, in 1835, a privately printed volume of Extracts from the Literary and Scientific Correspondence of Richard Richardson, M.D.

[1] Dillenius[5] singled out Richardson and William Sherard for botanical investigations that enlarged the list of English plants, and determined the habitats of specimens.

[1] Of the sons, Richard Richardson the younger (1708–1781) had building work carried out on Bierley Hall, and a chapel added on the estate.

[10][11][12] Dorothy Richardson (1748–1819), sister of Henry (1758–1784), had artistic and antiquarian interests, and left travel journals.