Name Harriet Beaufort | ||
Harriet Henrietta Beaufort (1778–1865) was a late 18th-century/early 19th-century British botanist, born in Ireland. She published Dialogues on Botany in 1819 to teach plant biology to young readers.
Contents
Dialogues on Botany
In her book she explains that in her opinion it was important to "delay the teachings of the Linnaean system of classification until she first provided the basis, physiology." She omitted pictures in her book because she thought it was important for readers to study nature and not the representation of it. She was criticized by her contemporaries for this.
Family
Harriet's father Reverend Daniel Beaufort, a founding member of the Royal Irish Academy, was her inspiration to become a scientist. Harriet had two sisters, Frances and Louisa, and a brother, Francis. Her whole family was interested or connected to science. Both Harriet and Louisa's books were published in hopes to support their family when their father gave up his clerical position and found himself with lots of debt.
When her brother Francis's confidential diary was decoded, after their deaths, it revealed feelings of guilt he felt over having an incestuous relationship with Harriet.