Dr. Robert Kaye Greville FRSE FLS LLD (13 December 1794 – 4 June 1866) was an English mycologist, bryologist, and botanist.

In addition to art and science he was interested in causes like abolitionism,[1] capital punishment,[3] keeping Sunday special[4] and the temperance movement.

Realising that he did not need an income he discarded four years of medical education in London and Edinburgh and decided to concentrated on botany which had been a strong interest when he was a boy.

[10] At some point in late 1826 or early in 1827, he took a boat trip to the Isle of May with two students, William Ainsworth and Charles Darwin.

To their amusement, this "eminent cryptogamist" laughed so much at screeching seabirds that he had to "lie down on the greensward to enjoy his prolonged cachinnation.

[4][14] In addition to science he was interested in political causes like abolitionism,[1] capital punishment,[3] keeping Sunday special[4] and the temperance movement.

The picture above shows him in a detail from a painting made to commemorate the event which attracted delegates from America, France, Haiti, Australia, Ireland, Jamaica and Barbados.

[4][14] He died at his home, Ormelie Villa, in Murrayfield, Edinburgh[15] on 4 June 1866 whilst still taking an active interest in his work having new papers in preparation for publication.