John Hutton Balfour Scotland

Biography of John Hutton Balfour

John Hutton Balfour
John Hutton Balfour

John Hutton Balfour (1808-1884), nicknamed "Woody Fibre", was Regius Professor of Botany at the University from 1841 to 1845. He was awarded an LLD in 1879.

Born in Edinburgh, Balfour studied at the Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh, graduating MD from the latter in 1836 and setting up in private practice. He was a founder member of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh in 1836 and lectured on Botany in the city. In 1841, was invited to fill the Regius Chair at Glasgow.

Balfour was closely involved in laying out the new Botanic Gardens in the city's West End and brought his herbarium with him from Edinburgh. In October 1845, however, he returned to the capital as Professor of Medicine and Botany at the University of Edinburgh and he was subsequently appointed Regius Professor of Botany, Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden and Queen's Botanist in Scotland.

Summary

John Hutton Balfour
Botanist

Born 15 September 1808, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Died 11 February 1884.
GU Degree: LLD, 1879;
University Link: Honorary Graduate, Professor
Occupation categories: botanists
NNAF Reference: GB/NNAF/P133784
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Record last updated: 15th Aug 2008

Country Associations

Scotland Scotland
Place of Birth

University Connections

University Roles

  • Honorary Graduate
  • Professor

Academic Posts

Professorships: