William Turner Thiselton-Dyer (1843-1928)

William Thiselton-Dyer first studied mathematics at Oxford and later turned to natural science, graduating in 1867. After brief spells as Professor of Natural History at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, and Professor of Botany at the Royal College of Science in Dublin, he took up a professorship at the Royal Horticultural Society in London in 1872, upon the recommendation of Joseph Hooker.

In 1875, Thiselton-Dyer was offered the post of Assistant Director at Kew, under Sir J D Hooker, where he was to stay for thirty years. Thiselton-Dyer devoted much of his early work to the Colonies, such as the introduction of rubber to plantations of Sri Lanka and Malaya, and the introduction of cacao from Trinidad to plantations in Sri Lanka. In 1877, he was given charge of an international research laboratory, erected at Kew with private sponsorship, which became known as one of the best laboratories in Europe. Thiselton-Dyer was also entrusted with the design of a new rock garden, following a bequest to Kew in 1881 of a large collection of Alpine plants.

Upon the retirement of Sir J D Hooker in 1885, Thiselton-Dyer was appointed Director of Kew. Under his direction, many improvements were made and new features appeared, such as the Alpine House created in 1887 as an annex to the Rock Garden. He also undertook the completion of the unfinished Temperate House, which became the largest glass house in the world. He was an authoritative figure who demanded unquestioning loyalty and obedience from his staff. He retired from his post of Director of Kew in December 1905.

Back to: Directors

Back to: Botanists

On to: Ghillean Prance