Introduction
Dr William Jameson FRSE CIE (1815-1882) was a Scottish physician and botanist linked to the massive spread of tea plantations in North India in the 19th century.
Life
He was born in Leith in 1815 the son of Laurence Jameson or Jamieson (1783-1827), a soda manufacturer at Silverfield and his wife, Jane Watson (b.1788). His uncle was Robert Jameson FRSE.
He was educated at the High School in Edinburgh then studied Medicine at Edinburgh University. In 1838 he received a position with the Indian Medical Service based in Bengal. Huis interest quickly drifted to botany and he was made Curator of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. In 1842 he was made Superintendent of the Saharanpur Botanical Garden.
In 1863 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being John Hutton Balfour.
From 1875 he was Deputy Surgeon General of India for which he was created a Commander of the Indian Empire (CIE).
He died in Dehradun in India on 18 March 1882.
Publications
The standard author abbreviation W.Jameson is used to indicate this individual as the author when citing a botanical name.
- Suggestions for the Importation of Tea Makers, Implements and Seeds from China (1852)
Family
He was married to Emily Field.
His cousin was Thomas Jameson Torrie FRSE.