| AdminHistory | The Reverend Dr Samuel Goodenough (1743-1827) was a botanist, physician and became the Bishop of Carlisle. He founded the Linnean Society of London with James Edward Smith and Thomas Marsham in 1788. The plant genus' 'Goodenia' and 'Petroica goodenovii' are named in his honour. He is best known for his published works on the species of Carex and Fucus.
Goodenough was born on 29 April 1743 in Kimpton, Hampshire. He was the third son to the Reverend William Goodenough, rector of Broughton Poggs, Oxfordshire. He attended a school in Witney, Oxfordshire, before being sent to the Westminster School under the Headmaster, William Markham. In 1760 he became a student at Christ Church College, Oxford before returning to Westminster School in 1766 as under-master for four years. He then left this position after inheriting from his father his post as the rector of Broughton Poggs. On 17 April 1770, he married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the physician, Dr James Ford. He had four daughters, as well as three sons who all went on to become clergymen.Some of their children died young.
He established a private school in Ealing for the sons of gentlemen in London, and was a founder member of the Linnean Society with J. E. Smith in 1788, becoming the society's first Treasurer. He became the Dean of Rochester in 1802 and the Bishop of Carlisle in 1808. In 1820 he was made Vice President of the Royal Society.
Goodenough died in Worthing after suffering bad health on 12 August 1827. He is buried in the north cloister of Westminster Abbey near the grave of his good friend and former Headmaster at Westminster School Dr William Markham. |
| Description | Draft manuscript of the paper entitled 'Observations on the British Species of Carex' by the Rev. Samuel Goodenough which was read at a meeting of the Linnean Society on 3 April, 1792.
The manuscript has a section dedicated to each different species of Carex, numbered from 1-46. Beginning from number 1, Carex dioica (f.12) to number 46, Carex herita (f.61), descriptions are written in Latin followed by a further description in English.
Also included is a loose note (inserted between ff.54-55) which reads "Since the reading of this paper, the Baroness d'Itzenplitz favoured me with a sight of some Carices, sent her from Upsal, among which I observed this plant named acuta." |