> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 398](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33066738) of TL-2 Vol. VII > Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/11795-1) LSID 11795-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q715949) QID Q715949 > Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]] ### Author Withering, William (1741-1799), British physician, botanist and mineralogist; studied at the University of Edinburgh, M.D 1766; practicing physician at Stafford 1767-1775; idem at Birmingham 1775-1799. **Abbreviated name**: *With.* \[standard form in IPNI: *With.*\] #### Herbarium and types [[Collection BM|BM]] (orig. herb., from [[Collection LINN|LINN]]; also alg., bryoph., lich.); further material at [[Collection BR|BR]], [[Collection K|K]], and [[Collection BM|BM]] (incl. alg., bryoph., lichens), [[Collection LINN|LINN]] (in herb. J.E. Smith; orig. herb. now at [[Collection BM|BM]]), [[Collection LIV|LIV]], [[Collection UPS|UPS]]-Thunb. – *Manuscripts* see Bridson (1980); *letters* and R. Brown's notes on his herbarium (crypt.) at [[Collection BM|BM]]; to J.E. Smith at [[Collection LINN|LINN]], at Royal Society of Medicine, London. #### Bibliography and biography Ainsworth p. 78, 186, 300; Backer p. 664; Barnhart 3: 510 (b. 28 Mar 1741, d. 6 Oct 1799); BB p. 332; BL 2: 472; BM 5: 2343; Bossert p. 440; Dawson p. 878; Desmond p. 670-671; DNB 62: 268 (21: 739-741); Dryander 3: 14, 131, 510-511; DSB 14: 463-465 (W.F. Bynum); Frank 3 (Anh.): 115; GR p. 386, cat. p. 73; Henrey 2: 748 \[index\], 3: nos. 1505-1519; Herder p. 171; Hortus 3: 1207; Jackson p. 234, 237; LS 29169-29170; Plesch p. 461-462; PR 10360, ed. 1: 11329-11331; Rehder 5: 928; SBC p. 135; SO 675b-d; Sotheby 819-820; Stevenson p. 1263; TL-1/1437-1440; TL-2/5173, 12.324, see J. Hull, E. Robson, J. Shepherd, J.E. Smith, C.P. Thunberg; Tucker 1: 14, 751, 2: xl, 3: 339; Zander ed. 10, p. 733, ed. 11, p. 837. #### Biofile - Allen, D.E., Victorian fern craze 8-9. 1969. - Anon., Brit. Mus. gen. cat. print. books 259: 803-805. 1965; Cat. gén. livr. impr. Bibl. natl. 225: 567-569. 1976; Cottage Gardener 7: 43. 1852 (memorial tablet in church of Edgbaston). - Bagnall, J.E., Fl. Warwickshire 492-493. 1891; Fl. Staffordshire 70. 1901. - Bridson, G.D.R. et al., Nat. hist. mss. res. Brit. Isl. 40.8, 255.70, 269.81, 278.4, 282.7. 1980. - Britten, J., J. Bot. 54: 274-276. 1916 (first use of the term "herbarium" in English in *Bot*. *arr*. ed. 2, 1792, but also with Martyn). - Britten, J. & G.S. Boulger, J. Bot. 52: 299-306, 317-323. 1914 (on J. Stokes and his part in *Bot. arr.* ed. 2). - Cadbury, D.R., Computer-mapped Fl. Warwickshire 49-51. 1971. - Crane, M.D., Newsl. Soc. Bibl. nat. hist. 9: 10. 1981. - Crombie, J.M., Grevillea 12: 56-62, 70-76. 1883-1884 (the lichens in C.'s herb.). - Cushny, A.R., Proc. R. Soc. Med. 8 (Hist. Med.): 85-94. 1914. - Daintith, J. et al., Biogr. encycl. scientists 855. 1981. - Dawson, W.R., Smith papers 98. 1934. - Dony, J.G., Fl. Hertfordshire 12. 1967. - Druce, G.C., Fl. Berkshire cxlii. 1897. - Edees, E.S., Fl. Staffordshire 15, 675. 1972. - Fulton, J.F., J. Hist. Med. 8: 1-15. 1953 (place in scientific medicine). - Gage, A.T., Hist. Linn. Soc. London 125 (presentation herb.). - Grolle, R., Trans Brit. Bryol. Soc. 5: 766-774. 1969 (re-evaluation of new hepatic sp. in Bot. arr. ed. 1). - Hale-White, W., Proc. R. Soc. Med. 22(8)(Hist. Med.): 37-41 (1087-1091). 1929 (letters by and to W. at R. Soc. Med., London). - Hawksworth, D.L. & M.R.D. Seaward, Lichenology Brit. Isl. 173. 1977. - Hirsch, A., Biogr. Lex. hervorrag. Ärzte ed. 3. 5: 972-973. 1962. - Horwood, A.R. and C.W.F. Noel, Fl. Leicestershire cxcvi. 1933. - Kent, D.H., Brit. Herb. 31, 86. 1957. - Kent, D.H. & D.E. Allen, Brit. Irish Herb. 277. 1984 (herb. orig. at LINN now at BM). - Laundon, J.R., Lichenologist 16(3): 211-239. 1984 (typification of Withering's neglected lichens; modern nomenclature lich.). - Moorman, L.J., Bull. Hist. Med. 12(2): 355-366. 1942 (W., his work, health, friends). - Musser, R. & J.C. Krantz, Jr., Bull. Hist. med. 8: 844-847. 1940 (friendship with Erasmus Darwin). - Oliver, D., J. Linn. Soc. 4: 196. 1860 (on W.'s herb. at LINN). - Peck, T.W. & K.D. Wilkinson, William Withering of Birmingham, Bristol 1950, viii, 239 p., frontisp., pl. 1-52. - Riddelsdell, H.J., Fl. Glouc. cxiv. 1948. - Rowbury, R.J., Microscopy 34(4): 244-253. 1981 (on W. and the botanical microscope). - Sayre, G., Taxon 6: 11. 1957 (mosses in Syst. arr. ed. 4). - Schofield, R.E., The Lunar Society of Birmingham, Oxford 1963, p. 121-127, 163-165, 223-226, 236, 278, 290-291, 304-311, 315-325, 359-375, 388-399, 426, 456-457. - Smith, J.E., Rees Cyclopaedia 38: \[alphabet.\] 1818 ("In his disposition he was mild and humane, and his natural reserve did not preclude him from the pleasure of rational society"). - Stafleu, F.A., *in* L'Héritier, Sertum angl., facs. ed. 1963, p. xxvii, lxxxix, 33. 1963 eponymy). - Talbott, J.H., A biographical history of medicine, New York, London 1970, p. 484-486. - Tryon, A.F., Missouri Bot. Gard. Bull. 41(6): 107-111. 1953. - Wallace, R.H., Gard. Chron. 25 Oct 1902, p. 298-299. - Walter, J.H.F., Trans. Norfolk Natural. Soc. 9(5): 671-672. 1914 (on Bot. arr. ed. 2). - White, J.W., Fl. Bristol 63-65. 1872. - Withering, W., Jr., The miscellaneous tracts of William Withering, London, 2 vols., 1822. - Whitmore Peck, T. and K. Douglas Wilkinson, William Withering of Birmingham, Bristol, London 1950 (biogr., letters, bibl.). - Williams, T.I., ed., Biogr. dict. Scientists 566. 1969. - Wittrock, V.B., Acta Horti berg. 3(2): 99. 1903. - Woglom, W.H., Discovers for medicine 46-60. 1949. - Zeman, F.D., Bull. Hist. Med. 24(6): 530-538. 1950 (on W. as a mineralogist). #### Eponymy *Witheringa* L'Héritier de Brutelle (1789); *Witheringia* Miers (1849). ### Publications ##### n.18.077. A botanical arrangement of all the vegetables **Title** *A botanical arrangement of all the vegetables* naturally growing *in Great Britain*. With descriptions of the genera and species, according to the system of the celebrated Linnaeus. Being an attempt to render them familiar to those who are acqainted with the learned languages. Under each species are added, the most remarkable varieties, the natural places of growth, the duration, the time of flowering, the peculiarities of structure, the common English names; the names of Gerard, Parkinson, Ray and Bauhine \[sic\]. The uses as medicines, or as poisons; as food for men, for brutes \[i.e. animals\], and for insects. With their applications in oeconomy and in the arts. With an easy introduction to the study of botany. Shewing the method of investigating plants, and directions show to dry and preserve specimens. The whole illustrated by copper plates and a glossary... Birmingham (printed by M. Swinney), London (for T. Cadel and P. Elmsley...) 1776. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Bot. arr. veg. Gr. Brit.* **Notes** *1*: 1776, p. \[i\*\], *pl. 1*, \[i\]-xviii, xvii-xcvi, \[1\]-383, *pl. 2*. *2*: 1776 (Lond. Rev. 4: 474-475. Dec 1776, rev.), p. \[i-iv\], 385-784, 783-838, *pl. 3-12* (uncol. copp.). Some copies have preface matter p. \[i, t.p.\] only. *Copies*: FH, G, HH, L-UB, MICH, MO, NY, USDA; IDC 5818. *Further editions*: Have different titles, see below. *Ref*.: Ackerknecht, E.H., Bull. Hist. Nat. 36: 400-419. 1962. - Brodman, E., Bull. Hist. Med. 17(4): 415-417, *2 pl*. 1945 (two different plates). - Dawson, W.T. & J. Chapman, Ann. med. Hist. ser. 2. 6: 31-34. 1934. - Estes, J.W. & P.D. White, Sci. Amer. 212: 110-119. 1965. - Roddis, L.H., Ann. med. Hist. ser. 2. 8: 93-112. 1936. ##### n.18.078. An account of the foxglove **Title** *An account of the foxglove*, and some of its medical uses: with remarks on dropsy, and other diseases... Birmingham (printed by M. Swinney), London (for C.G.J. and J. Robinson...) 1785. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Account foxglove*. **Notes** *publ*.: 1785, p. \[i\]-xx, \[xxi\], \[1\]-207, \[208\], *1 pl. Copies*: HU, USDA. – For a bibliogr. analysis and further details see HU 676. For plate see E. Brodman (1945). *Other ed*.: in Misc. tracts W. Withering, 1822. *Facsimile ed*.: s.d., Broomsleigh Press, London; also in L.A. May, *Withering on the foxglove* and other classics in pharmacology, New York (Dabor Science Publ.) 1977. *German transl*. (*1*): 1786, p. \[i\]-xxviii, \[1\]-234, *1 pl*. \[235\]. *Copies*: NLM, NSUB. – *Abhandlung vom rothen Fingerhut* und dessen Anwendung in der praktischen Heilkunde vorzüglich bei der Wassersucht und einigen anderen Krankheiten. Aus dem Englischen vom D. Christian Friedrich Michaelis... Leipzig (In der Johann Gottfried Müllerschen Buchhandlung) 1786. *German transl* (*2*): 1929, frontisp., p. \[1\]-209, \[210\]. *Copies*: B, GOET, LC. – *Bericht über* *den Fingerhut* und seine medizinische Anwendung... Mannheim (C.F. Boehringer & Soehne,...). ##### n.18.079. A botanical arrangement of British plants **Title** *A botanical arrangement of British plants*; including the uses of each species, in medicine, diet, rural oeconomy and the arts. With an easy introduction to the study of botany, &c. &c. Illustrated by copper plates. The *second edition*... including a new set of references to figures. By Jonathan Stokes... Birmingham (printed by M. Swinney) London (for C.G.J. & J. Robinson,...) Edinburgh (J. Balfour,...) 1787-1792, 3 vols. (in 4). Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Bot. arr. Brit. pl. ed. 2*. **Notes** *1*: Aug-Sep 1787 (p. ix: 24 Aug 1787; W. sent a copy to Banks on 5 Oct 1787), p. \[i\*\], \[1\]-lxvi, \[1\]-484, *pl. 1-2.* *2*: Aug-Sep 1787 (t.p.; W. sent a copy to Banks on 5 Oct 1787), p. \[i, iii\], 485-1151, *pl. 3-12* \[sometimes bound with vol. 3\]. \[MICH copy: p. 485-500, orig. numb.: 449-465, obliterated; id. 503 which was 519. NY copy: p. 485-507 originally numbered 449-523\]. *3*(*1*): Jul-Dec 1789 (see Stafleu, Taxon 12: 84), p. \[i\*\], \[i\]-clvii, chart. – Page \[i\*\] is an undated provisional t.p. *3*(*2*): Sep-Dec 1792 (see Stafleu, Taxon 12: 84), p. \[i-xxiv\], 9-503, *pl. 13-19* (*17-18* col.), Birmingham (printed by Swinney & Walker) London... *Copies*: HH, MICH, NY, US; IDC 5819. *Note*: for Jonathan Stokes (1755-1831), see TL-2/6: 15-16. *Ed. 3*: see below. ##### n.18.080. An arrangement of British plants **Title** *An arrangement of British plants*; according to the latest improvements of the Linnaean system. To which is prefixed, an easy introduction to the study of botany. Illustrated by copper plates... The *third edition*, in four volumes... Birmingham (printed for the author, by M. Swinney), London (sold by C.G. & J. Robinson,...) 1796. 4 vols. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Arr. Brit. pl. ed. 3*. **Notes** *1*: 1796 (Mon. Rev. London Jan 1797), p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-402, *pl. 1-16*, 19 (uncol. copp.). Plates 17-18 issued with vol. 4. *2*: 1796 (id.), p. \[i-iii\], \[1\]-256, 259-512, *pl. 20-28.* *3*: 1796 (id.), p. \[i-iv\], 513-920, *pl. 29-30.* *4*: 1796 (id.), p. \[i-iii\], \[1\]-418 \[p. 418 in some copies err. numbered 420\], *pl. 17-18, 31. Copies*: G, HH, LIV, MO, NY(1), US, USDA; IDC 5820. ##### n.18.081. A systematic arrangement of British plants **Title** *A systematic arrangement of British plants*;... with an easy introduction to the study of botany. Illustrated by copper-plates. By William Withering, MD.... the *fourth edition*, in four volumes: corrected and enlarged by William Withering, Esq.... London (printed for T. Cadell, Jun....) 1801. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Syst. arr. Brit. pl. ed. 4*. **Notes** *Editor and author of corrections*: William Withering Jun. (1775-1832). *Ed. 4*: 26 Dec 1801 (S.W. Greene, J. Soc. Bibl. nat. Hist. 4: 66. 1962), 4 vols. *Copies*: G, HH, MICH, MO, PH, USDA; IDC 5487. *1*: p. \[i\]-xiv, \[1\]-402, *pl. 1-16, 19.* *2*: p. \[i-iii\], \[1\]-444, *pl. 20-28, 32.* *3*: p. \[i-iii\], \[445\]-900, *pl. 29-30.* *4*: p. \[i-iii\], \[1\]-409, \[410\], *pl. 17-18, 31. Ed.* 5: 1812 (1: xi dated Jun 1812), "... corrected and considerably enlarged by William Withering, Esq. \[Jun.\]..., 4 vols. Birmingham (printed for Thomsom and Wrightson). Oct. 4 vols. *Copies*: BR, G, HH, LIV, MICH, MO, NY, Stevenson, USDA. *1*: p. \[i\]-xx, \[1\]-402, *pl. 1-16, 19.* *2*: p. \[i, iii\], \[1\]-554, *pl. 20-28, 32, 33, 35.* *3*: p. \[i, iii\], \[555\]-1087, \[i\]-xxxiii, *pl. 29, 30, 34.* *4*: p. \[i, iii\], \[1\]-440, \[1-18, index\], *pl. 17-18* \[plate *31* was not issued\]. *Ed. 6*: 1818 (p. \[v\]: Jan 1818), "corrected and considerably enlarged by William Withering, Esq. \[Jun.\]..." London (printed for Cadell and Davies,...) Oct. 4 vols. *Copies*: BR, G, HH, LIV, PH. *1*: p. \[i\]-xx, \[1\]-402, *pl. 1-16, 19*, \[1-3, errata; bound in different places in different copies\]. *2*: p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-595, *pl. 20-28, 32-33, 35.* *3*: p. \[i-iv\], \[597\]-1138, \[1-2, blank; 3-36 indexes\], *pl. 29-30, 34.* *4*: p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-481, \[1-19, indexes\], *pl. 17-18.* *Ed. 7*: 1830 (preface p. lvi: 1 Jan 1830), "including the most recent discoveries,..." London (printed for C.J.G. and F. Rivington,...). Oct. 4 vols. *Copies*: G, HH, HU, LIV, MO, U, USDA; IDC 6485. – See also D.E. Johnson, Huntia 6: 108. 1985. *1*: p. \[i\]-lxix, \[1\]-394, *pl. 1-16, 19.* *2*: p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-590, 590\*, *pl. 20-22, 24-28, 31-32, 34.* *3*: p. \[i-iv\], \[591\]-1169, *pl. 23, 29-30.* *4*: p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-320, 337-444, *pl. 17-18.* *Note*: The "eighth" edition mentioned by PR is identical with W. MacGillivray, *Syst. arr.* *Brit. pl.* 1830, see TL-2/5173, an independent work, which went through 14 editions itself. Additional information: *Ed. 5*: 1841. *Copy*: MO. *Ed. 7*: 1848. *Copy*: MO. *Ed. 10*: 1858, p. \[i-iv\], \[5\]-476, *pl. 1-16. Copies*: HH, LIV. ##### n.18.082. The miscellaneous tracts of the late William Withering **Title** *The miscellaneous tracts of the late William Withering*,... to which is prefixed a memoir of his life, character, and writings. In two volumes... London (printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown,...) 1822. 2 vols. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Misc. tracts*. **Notes** *Editor* and author of biogr. memoir: William Withering Jun. (1775-1832), son of William Withering (1741-1799), who also edited *Syst. arr. Brit. pl.* eds. 4-7; see Desmond p. 671. *1*: 1822, portr., p. \[i\]-vii, chart, \[1\]-496. *2*: 1822, p. \[i\]-iv, \[1\]-503. *Copy*: HH.