Henry Guppy Papers

This collection includes records that contain terminology, language or images which are outdated, offensive, or upsetting. While this does not align with RBGKs views and values today, the content is representative of the time and context in which the records were created, and our team are reviewing our collections and policies to determine how these records can be appropriately described, showcased, and discussed to ensure they are placed within this context and are accessible to everyone. We are committed to enhancing and improving our catalogue descriptions and promoting transparency around our collections, so please get in touch with any feedback or comments about the catalogue at archives@kew.org

Collection includes ten volumes of handwritten MS notes relating to Hawaii, Seychelles, Canaries, South America, Devon & Cornwall, Azores c.1903-1914; one volume of MS notes relating to Solomon Island plants, dated 1885; one notebook entitled ‘Seed Weighings’ and handwritten notes relating to the custodial history of the notebook; also includes one file of MS notes relating to Water Plants and one letter from Agnes Arber to Mrs Molesworth dated 22 Oct 1937, discussing whether the Water Plants notes were published by Guppy prior to his death.

Henry Brougham Guppy was born on 23 Dec 1854 in Falmouth, United Kingdom. His work was predominately focused on plant distribution and dispersal. Guppy studied Medicine at Queen's College in Birmingham before going on to graduate from the University of Edinburgh.

He served in the Medical Service of the Royal Navy from1876-1885 as Surgeon on the H.M.S. Hornet in the South China Sea (1877-1880) and later as Surgeon on the H.M.S. Larkin in the Western Pacific (1881-1884). Whilst serving on the H.M.S Lark, he surveyed and studied volcanoes, the formation of coral reefs and the dispersal of plants on the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and surrounding area.

Guppy collected plants in Solomon Islands, Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Java in the 1880s and undertook Botanical and Geological exploration in Hawaiian and Fijian Islands from 1896-1900. He later investigated Littoral Flora of Pacific side of South America 1903-1904 and undertook botanical research in the West Indies [Caribbean] 1907-1911.

Guppy was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1888 and a Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1918. Guppy was awarded the Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society of London in 1917.

Henry Brougham Guppy died on 23 Apr 1926 in Martinique, West Indies onboard the SS El Kantara whilst on voyage from Tahiti to the United Kingdom.