25 
III. 
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SEVERAL NORWICH 
BOTANISTS, 
In a letter to Alexander MacLeaIy, Sec. L.S. By Sir James 
Edward Smith, M.D., F.A.S., P.L.S., in the Transactions 
of the Linncean Society of London , Vol. VII , p. 295. 
Communicated by Hampden G. Glasspoole, Esq. 
Read November 21st, 187 4- 
Norwich, lJfh January, 1804- 
Dear Sir — The recent death of one of my oldest botanical 
friends, who has long been a Fellow of the Linmean Society, has 
suggested some recollections to me which may not be altogether 
uninteresting, and which I beg the favour of you to communicate 
to the Society. 
Mr. John Pitehford, whose name is well known to all who are 
conversant with the botany of England, died here on the 22nd of 
December, 1803, aged sixty-six years. 
He had long practiced as a surgeon and apothecary in this town 
and neighbourhood, especially among the Catholics, being himself 
of that persuasion. His moral character aud truly Christian spirit 
would have done honour to any church or sect, and he has left 
five children to lament the loss of a most indulgent father. I 
would add more on this subject, but his scientific character is more 
especially my present object. 
Mr. Pitehford was the last of a school of botanists in this town, 
among whom the writings and merits of Linnaeus were perhaps 
more early, or at least more philosophically studied and appreciated, 
than in any part of Britain. 
Norwich had long, indeed, been conspicuous for the love of 
plants. A play is extant, called “ Rhodon and Iris, : ’ which was 
presented at 'the liorists’ feast in Norwich, and printed in 1G37. 
The taste for the cultivation of flowers was probably imported from 
