40 8 Presidentship of Sir Joseph D. Hooker 1873 



Antarctic regions, adding many hundreds of new species 

 of plants to the then known flora of the southern hemi- 

 sphere, as displayed in his great Flora Antarctica. In 1847 ne 

 became F.R.S., and starting for India spent three years in the 

 exploration of the botany and geology of the Himalaya moun- 

 tains. In his Himalayan Journals he gave a vivid account of 

 his experience in that region. In 1855 he was appointed 

 Assistant-Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew and in 

 1865 he succeeded his father as the head of that great 

 institution, which in his hands became the chief botanical 

 centre of the world. In 1871 he made an expedition into 

 Morocco, ascended to the then virgin summit of the Great 

 Atlas, bringing home a rich collection of plants. His 

 remarkable capacity for research and his unwearied industry 

 in prosecuting it remained with him through life. In the 

 midst of his scientific work he now accepted the honourable 

 but somewhat onerous position of President of the Royal 

 Society. He fulfilled its duties with diligence and tact, 

 and took his place worthily as Chairman of the Club. But 

 his inextinguishable desire to see fresh botanical regions 

 led him in 1877 to undertake still another tour. At the 

 age of sixty he accompanied another veteran botanist, Dr. 

 Asa Gray of Harvard, in a tour through Colorado, Utah 

 and California. Honours of every kind were showered 

 upon him, not only in his own country, but from all parts 

 of the world. He was an Honorary member of every 

 important scientific society and an Honorary graduate 

 of innumerable Universities. He was made a member of 

 the British Order of Merit and a Knight Grand Cross of the 

 Star of India. His heart continued to be in his work, and 

 his mind remained active up to the very end. He died 

 in 1911, at the great age of ninety-four years. 



1874. The Anniversary Meeting held on 25th June 1874 

 was attended by thirty-one members and Sir Charles Wheat- 

 stone took the Chair. The statement submitted by the 

 Treasurers showed that the expenditure since the last 

 Anniversary had risen to the large sum of 142 153. 6d. and 

 that there was a balance of 48 75. 6d. against the Club. 



