The Botanical Society of Edinburgh was founded by Dr John Hutton Balfour (who eventually became Regius Keeper at RBGE) and a group of like-minded men in February 1836. 100 years later, a day of events was hosted in Edinburgh on the 1st of July 1936 to celebrate its Centenary. One of these was a tea party, held in one of the RBGE laboratories surrounded by portraits, photographs and exhibits of people, events and objects significant to the Society's history. Regius Keeper William Wright Smith can be clearly seen holding a cigarette, as well as RBGE photographer Robert Moyes Adam (light suit, bow tie) and Professor Ferdinand Orpen Bower (white beard, sitting) talking to Arthur William Hill, the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Do you recognise anyone else?
The Society, now renamed the Botanical Society of Scotland is still going strong today, over 175 years after its foundation.
Copyright: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
