William Wright (botanist)

William Wright FRS FRSE FRCPE FLS FSA Scot MWS (1735–1819) was a Scottish physician, botanist and slave owner.

He obtained his doctorate (MD) from St Andrews University in 1763. ,[1] and became a navy surgeon in 1760.

[3] In 1764 Wright became the assistant to a Dr. Gray on a sugar plantation in Kingston, Jamaica, where he invested the income from his medical practice into slaves and land.

Appointed Surgeon General of Jamaica in 1774, Wright stayed on the island until 1777 then spent two years in London.

He sold his property in Jamaica in 1784 following the death of Steel, the proceeds of which supported him for the rest of his life.

He died in Edinburgh on 19 September 1819 and is buried in the north west section of the western extension to Greyfriars Kirkyard.