thumb|<div style="text-align: center;">[[Pinus halepensis<br> from <br>'Description of the Genus Pinus'</div>]]

Aylmer Bourke Lambert (2 February 1761 – 10 January 1842) was a British botanist, one of the first fellows of the Linnean Society.

Early life

Aylmer Bourke Lambert was born at Bath, England on 2 February 1761, the son of Edmund Lambert of Boyton House and Bridget Bourke who was the daughter of the 8th Viscount Mayo. Lambert's mother died in 1773, the same year that he started school and through her family he inherited estates in Jamaica and Ireland. Lambert went to Newcome's School for the sons of gentlemen at Hackney, He also amassed a large collection of specimens and drawings from Australia in the era immediately following the arrival of the First Fleet. Contributors included Governor Arthur Phillip, Surgeon-General John White, Colonel William Paterson, Major Robert Ross, Major Francis Grose and Philip Gidley King.

Lambert's collection of 50,000 preserved plant specimens, In 1796 Lambert was appointed by James Edward Smith as one of the four vice-presidents of the Linnean Society of London. He held this position until his death at his home on Kew Green in 1842.

Royal Society

In 1791, Lambert was elected to the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge and Joseph Banks made him a member of its Council in 1810.

"He was a friend and correspondent of Sir Joseph Banks, and took a great interest in the botanical and zoological discoveries emerging from New Holland in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as they were transmitted back to London, whether as living or dead specimens, as seeds, or as drawings. Lambert compiled the collection from Surgeon General John White's specimens and drawings brought from Sydney to London in 1795."

Honours and memorials

Lambert is honoured in the scientific name of the Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana), the genus Lambertia, and the variegated fairywren (Malurus lamberti). The standard botanical author abbreviation Lamb. is applied to species he described.

References

Bibliography

  • ;
  • Elbert L. Little, Jr. "Lambert's 'Description of the Genus Pinus,' 1832 Edition". Madrono, 10:33–47. 1949.
  • H. W. Renkema and John Ardagh. "Aylmer Bourke Lambert and his 'Description of the Genus Pinus'". The Journal of the Linnean Society of London, 48:439–466. 1928–1931.
  • Aylmer Bourke Lambert FLS<!-- bot-generated title --> at www.barnelms.com
  • The TAL & Dai-ichi Life Derby Collection at the State Library of New South Wales