Who was Jacob Bobart?
Jacob Bobart the Younger (1641–1719) was an influential English botanist and horticulturist, remembered for his contributions to botany and the Oxford Physic Garden, where he succeeded his father, Jacob Bobart the Elder, as superintendent in 1679. Born in Oxford, Bobart worked alongside his father in the garden before taking over its management. Despite not holding an official university position, he became a prominent figure in the academic and horticultural communities.
Bobart was known for his wide-ranging botanical studies and experiments. He completed the third part of Robert Morison's Historia Plantarum in 1699, contributing significantly to botanical literature. A keen observer, he made notable discoveries, including insights into plant reproduction and the identification of plant varieties such as the London plane tree. He also maintained correspondence with leading botanists of his time, including William Sherard, who later honored him by naming the genus Bobartia after both Bobart and his father.
His career was marked by both scholarly work and practical gardening. For instance, he created a detailed "hortus siccus" (a dried plant collection) in twelve folio volumes. He was also involved in playful antics, famously crafting a "dragon" from a dead rat, which temporarily fooled scholars of the period.
Bobart faced challenges later in life, including being compelled to resign from his post due to ill health shortly before his death on December 28, 1719. Despite these difficulties, his contributions to botany and horticulture were widely recognized, leaving a lasting legacy in the field.
Sources:
- Wikipedia entry on Jacob Bobart the Younger【5】.
- Cabinet Oxford overview of Bobart’s life and achievements【6】.
- Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900 edition【7】.