William Phillips (botanist)

Born at Presteign in Radnorshire, on 4 May 1822, he was fourth son in a family of ten children of Thomas Phillips and Elizabeth, daughter of James Cross.

Beginning with flowering plants, Phillips turned to fungi about 1869, first to the Hymenomycetes and afterwards mainly to the Discomycetes, though other groups of cryptogams were also among his interests.

Between 1873 and 1891, with Charles Bagge Plowright, he contributed a series of notes on New and rare British Fungi to Grevillea, and between 1874 and 1881 he issued an exsiccata with sets of specimens entitled Elvellacei Britannici.

In 1887 he published his major work, A Manual of the British Discomycetes, in the International Scientific series (with twelve plates drawn by himself).

[1] In later life Phillips engaged in archæological research, and made studies of the earthworks, castles, and moated houses of Shropshire.

He took part in the preservation of the remains of Uriconium; helped to arrange the borough records of Shrewsbury, and to prepare the calendar (1896); edited the Quarter Sessions Rolls of Shropshire from 1652 to 1659, and transcribed the parish registers of Battlefield (2 vols.