TitleEngraving Unframed portrait of James Edward Smith MDFRS President of the Linnean SocietyDate1800About this objectThis engraving features a portrait of Sir James Edward Smith, English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society, whose A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland (1793) was the first published work on the flora of Australia. The portrait sits above a vignette depicting the event that allegedly happened after Smith purchased the Linnaean collection of books, manuscripts and specimens for 1000 guineas – Gustav III of Sweden sent a vessel to intercept the ship on their way back to London in 1784 (Biblio). The work was engraved by William Ridley after John Russell.Object No.2013.4Inscriptions & marksJames Edward Smith M.D.F.R.S. / President of the Linnean Society / The Pursuit of the Ship containing the Linnaean collection by order of the King of Sweden / Ridley sculpt. / London Published for Dr. Thornton March 25 1800Place madeLondonSourceLa Perouse MuseumOrganisations (Detailed entries)La Perouse Museum (La Perouse, N.S.W.)ThemesEuropean arrivals
