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History of Chelsea Physic Garden Staff

Praefectus Horti/Demonstrator

  • James Petiver (1664-1718) FRS – Demonstrator 1709?-18
  • Isaac Rand (-1743) FRS – Demonstrator 1722-39? Praefectus Horti 1724-43
  • Joseph Miller (-1748) Demonstrator 1740-48, Praefectus Horti 1743-47.
  • John Wilmer (1697-1769) – Demonstrator 1748-64.
  • William Hudson (1734-93) FRS, FLS – Demonstrator and Praefectus Horti 1765-71.
  • Stanesby Alchorne (1727-1800) – Demonstrator? and Praefectus Horti 1771-72.
  • William Curtis (1746-99) FLS – Demonstrator and Praefectus Horti 1772-77.
  • Thomas Wheeler (1754-1847) FLS – Demonstrator and Praefectus Horti 1778-1820.
  • James Lowe Wheeler (fl. 1820s-1870) FLS – Demonstrator 1821-34. Professor of Botany, Examiner for prizes in botany.
  • Gilbert Thomas Burnett (1800-35) FLS – Professor of Botany 1835.
  • John Lindley (1799-1865) FRS – Praefectus Horti 1836-53, and professor of botany.
  • - post abolished 1853.

Gardener/Curator

  • Spencer Piggott ( ) – c. 1677/8.
  • Richard Pratt ( ) – 1678?
  • John Watts (fl. 1670s-90s) – Curator/Director 1680-92/3.
  • Samuel Doody (1656-1706) FRS – Curator? 1692/3/5-?1706.
  • Committee to oversee Garden, incl J. Miller, I. Rand – 1707-?
  • Charles Gardiner ( ) - -1722.
  • Philip Miller (1691-1771) FRS – Gardener 1722-70.
  • William Forsyth (1734-1804) FLS – Gardener 1771-84.
  • John Fairbairn (fl.1780s-1814) FLS – Curator 1784-1814.
  • William Anderson (1766-1846) FLS – Curator 1815-46.
  • Robert Fortune (1812-80) – Curator 1846-48.
  • Thomas Moore (1821-87) FLS – Curator 1848-87.
  • - post vacant 1887-99 –
  • William Hales (1874-1937) ALS, VMM, VMH – Curator 1899-1937.
  • George William Robinson (1898-1976) VMH – Curator 1937-42.
  • - post vacant 1942-46 –
  • William Gregor MacKenzie (1904-95) VMH – Curator 1946-73.
  • Allen Paterson (19) FLS – Curator 1973-81.
  • Duncan Donald ( ) – Curator 1982-90.
  • Sue Minter (1949-) FLS – Curator 1991-2001
  • Rosie Atkins FLS – Curator 2002 -

Head Gardener/Foremen

  • Edward Ball (-1939 ) – Foreman 1889-1939.
  • George Boon ( ) – Foreman ?1940-59.
  • John Casky ( ) – Foreman 1959-73.
  • Chris Holroyd ( ) – Head Gardener 1974-79.
  • James Compton (1957- ) – Head Gardener 1984-90
  • Fiona Crumley (1962- ) – Head Gardener 1990-2001
  • Christopher Leach – Head Gardener 2001-2003
  • Mark Poswillo – Head Gardener 2003-