William John Burchell

William John Burchell

• Born in Fulham, London
• son of Matthew Burchell, botanist and owner of Fulham Nursery, and his wife. His father owned nine and a half acres of land adjacent to the gardens of Fulham Palace.

Burchell served a botanical apprenticeship at Kew and was elected Fellow of the Linnaen Society (F.L.S.) in 1803.

At about this time, he became enamoured of Lucia Green of Fulham, but faced strong disapproval from his parents when he broached the idea of an engagement.

On 7 August 1805 Burchell at the age of 24 sailed for St. Helena aboard the East Indiaman Northumberland intending to set up there as a merchant with a partner from London, William Balcombe (1779-1829). The partnership was dissolved 1806. Three months later he accepted a position as schoolmaster on the island and later as official botanist.

He sailed to the Cape of Good Hope in1910 on the recommendation of Gen. J.W. Janssens to explore and to add to his botanical collection. Burchell's intended wife had jilted him for the captain of the boat taking her to St. Helena to join him.

Landing at Table Bay on 26 November 1810, after stormy weather had prevented a landing for 13 days, Burchell set about planning an expedition into the interior. He left Cape Town in June 1811.

Burchell travelled in South Africa through 1815, collecting over 50,000 specimens, and covering more than 7000 km, much over unexplored terrain.

On 25 August 1815 he sailed from Cape Town with 48 crates of specimens aboard the vessel Kate, calling at St. Helena and reaching Fulham on 11 November 1815.

He travelled in Brazil between 1825 and 1830, collecting a large number of specimens, including more than 20,000 insects. His field note books, detailing his plant collections, are held in the collection of Kew Gardens.

After his death, his plant specimens, drawings and manuscripts, both South African and Brazilian, were presented by his sister, Anna Burchell, to Kew Gardens and the insects to Oxford University Museum. He is known for the copious and accurate notes he made to accompany every collected specimen, detailing habit and habitat, as well as the numerous drawings and paintings of landscapes, portraits, costumes, people, animals and plants.

Burchell died in Fulham in 1863, ending his own life by hanging himself in a small outhouse in his garden, after a non-fatal suicide attempt by shooting. He is buried near his home at All Saints Church, Fulham.

1861 Census

• Name: William J Burchell
• Age: 79
• Estimated Birth Year: 1782
• Relation: Head
• Gender: Male
• Where born: Fulham, Middlesex, England
• Civil Parish: Fulham
• County/Island: Middlesex
• Country: England
• Street Address:
• Occupation:
• Condition as to marriage:
• Registration District: Kensington
• Sub-registration District: Fulham
• ED, institution, or vessel: 6
• Household Schedule Number: 118
• Piece: 27
• Folio: 122
• Page Number: 22 Class: RG 9; Piece: 27; Folio: 122; Page: 22; GSU roll: 542559

Household Members:

• William J Burchell Head 79 Un married - Landed proprietor
• Mary Burchell Sister 82 Un married - Landed proprietor
• Anna Burchell Sister 68 Un married - Landed proprietor
• George Carter 50 Gardener
• Anne Stewart 52 Cook
• Jane White 23 Housemaid

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Fina a Grave

• Name: William John Burchell
• Gender: M (Male)
• Birth Date: 23 Jul 1781
• Birth Place: Fulham, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Greater London, England
• Death Date: 23 Mar 1863
• Death Place: Fulham, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Greater London, England
• Cemetery: All Saints Churchyard
• Burial or Cremation Place: Fulham, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Greater London, England

URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182906556/william-john-burchell